Oregon’s commercial Dungeness crab season delayed coastwide until at least Dec. 16, ODFW officials say

Eugene, OR – According to the state officials, pre-season testing revealed that crabs in some ocean areas have low meat yield, and two areas on the south coast showed elevated levels of domoic acid in crab viscera (guts).

Originally slated to open on December 1, the delay ensures that consumers will receive a high-quality product, and reduces the risk of wasting crabs.

Additionally, the commercial bay crab fishery, which is currently open from Cape Blanco to the Washington border, will close at 12:01 a.m. on December 1 in alignment with the delayed ocean season. The bay crab season will reopen in December only if the ocean season does.

The ODFW will conduct further crab meat yield and biotoxin testing in the coming weeks to determine if the season will open on December 16 or face additional delays. Results will also guide whether the season is split into areas with different opening dates.

ODFW works with the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission, the Oregon Department of Agriculture, and the commercial crab industry to test crabs at Oregon’s six major crabbing ports.