Oregon Dungeness Crab Season Set To Start On Time For A Change

PORTLAND, OR — It's been a tough few years for anyone interested in Dungeness Crab. Crabbers, vendors, restaurants, and diners have all had to deal with disappointment as the start of Oregon's Dungeness Crab Season has been delayed for the past several years. Since 2014.

This year looks to be different.

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The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission have been monitoring the situation and say that conditions appear to be right for the season to open on time.

For the first time in years, crabs tested by ODFW have not shown signs of high levels of acid or insufficient meat.

Officials think that this year's catch – only male crabs of a certain size can be harvested – might surpass last year's total of about 12 million pounds of crab. That's worth more than $60 million.

The crab commission says that the state's fleet has 424 boats and mostly operates out of six major ports along the coast.

• ODFW says that there are several rules all crabbers must follow:
• Beginning at 8 a.m. on November 28, crabbers can start setting their gear;
• Inspections of their hold must be done by the end of the day on November 3o if they want to participate in the first 30 days of the season.

They also want people to remember that hold inspections must be signed by the owner or operator of the ship. It cannot be signed by a crewman.