Dungeness crab is a key component of the marine ecosystem along the Pacific coast. The Dungeness crab fishery in Oregon is comprised of three targeted fishery sectors (the ocean commercial, bay commercial, and recreational Dungeness crab fisheries), with the ocean commercial sector typically constituting the most valuable single-species commercial fishery in the state.
The purpose of the Oregon Dungeness Crab Fishery Management Plan (FMP) is to provide management transparency and facilitate good governance. This plan provides a comprehensive assessment of the current knowledge on Dungeness crab and description of the current management strategy for the harvest of the resource. The fishery currently faces a range of complex management challenges that are also described throughout the FMP, along with the tools and strategies employed to address them.
ODFW sought input from interested stakeholders on a draft version of the FMP during a 30-day public comment period which ended on October 15, 2021. ODFW also heard public testimony during a presentation of the plan to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission on October 15, 2021. ODFW updated the draft FMP to incorporate public and Commission input and provided written responses addressing comments that were not incorporated. A final FMP was released on March 30, 2022 and can be found below, along with a summary of substantive comments pertaining to the draft FMP and ODFW’s responses. Other materials from the public process are also provided below.
(pdf)
Ocean commercial crab fishery
Kelly Corbett, kelly.c.corbett@odfw.oregon.gov
541-867-4741
Recreational and bay commercial crab fisheries
Steve Rumrill, steven.s.rumrill@odfw.oregon.gov
541-867-4741
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