After beginning the 2021 commercial Dungeness crab season on time for the first time in many years, the Oregon Department of Agriculture announced recently that the 2022 commercial Dungeness crab season would not be so lucky.
Based on second round pre-testing and consultations with ODA, Washington and California Departments of Fish and Wildlife, there was Tri-State agreement to delay the ocean commercial Dungeness crab season from the
OR/CA border to the US/Canada border until at least January 15th.
This delay is to allow completion of additional testing for meat recovery and domoic acid to provide confidence that crab harvested from Oregon waters are of high quality for the season opening.
Meanwhile, south of the Oregon border, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced it will open their commercial Dungeness crab fishery statewide on Dec. 31st.
However, areas south of the Sonoma/Mendocino county line in California, will open with a 64-hour gear setting period to begin on Dec. 28th, as well as a 50 percent trap reduction. This trap reduction is intended to help reduce risk of entanglement of migrating humpback whales.
