Commercial Dungeness crab season further delayed
NEWPORT, Ore. - Dungeness crab season will start a month late, wildlife officials said Monday.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced that the opening of the ocean commercial Dungeness crab season in Oregon will be delayed through Dec. 30.
The ocean commercial Dungeness crab season along the Oregon coast normally opens on Dec. 1.
The harvest can be delayed to let the crabs grow, ODFW said.
Last month, fishery managers decided to delay the opening of the season for two weeks.
But coast-wide crab quality testing showed some test areas did not meet minimum preseason test criteria, ODFW said. Fishery managers met Monday and decided to further delay the opening through Dec. 30 to allow crab quality to improve.
In Oregon, crabbers will be allowed to begin setting their gear in the ocean at 8:01 a.m. on Dec. 28 and start harvesting crab at 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 31.
Recreational harvest of crab in the ocean and in Oregon’s bays will remain open, ODFW said.
From Newport to south of Port Orford the crab have met the critria to open. It is the bigger ports of Astoria and Brookings that have not. These ports are causing economic hardship for the rest of us. This hardship will not only be experienced by fishermen, but will trickle all the way down to the checkout clerk at your local grocery store (especially in a town like Port Orford). As a result of the unnecessary late opening, my four children will not have a Christmas. I am considering throwing my Christmas Tree out in the front yard.