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Commercial crab fishing season opening weekly updates
In accordance with the Tri-State protocol (revised August 2024, pdf) pre-season testing in Oregon will begin in early November. Meat recovery and biotoxin results from the test fishery will be used as a basis for deciding the crab season opening date(s). In partnership with the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission and the commercial Dungeness crab industry, ODFW collects and tests crab out of the six major crabbing ports in Oregon. Weekly testing updates, along with information about season opening status will be posted below. Weekly updates will be provided until the decision to open the season is made.
Crab were collected from 8 crab harvest areas (50-C, D, G, H, I, J, K, and L) for meat recovery and domoic acid testing
on November 6. Our 50-C & D test vessel took a bad wave crossing the Yaquina Bay bar, which resulted in mixing and
potential loss of crab overboard, so the decision was made to abort the meat recovery test. Crab collected for domoic
acid testing were saved. Areas 50-G through 50-L met meat recovery criteria, with results posted above. Domoic acid
results will be posted on Oregon Department of Agriculture’s website here when they become available.
Volunteer boats are lined up to collect crab for meat recovery and domoic acid from the remaining crab harvest areas as
soon as weather permits.
11/5 - Thursday
Volunteer boats are setting pots today to collect crab for meat recovery and domoic acid in the following crab harvest
areas: 50-C, 50-D, 50-G, 50-H, 50-I, 50-J, 50-K and 50-L. To ensure testing protocols are followed, we will have onboard
observers for all gear retrieval trips. Boats will be delivering test crab on Friday. We plan to collect samples from
crab harvest areas 50-A, 50-B, 50-E and 50-F early next week, weather permitting.
Tri-State area meat recovery results will be posted on this page just above this table when they are available. All crab
domoic acid results will be posted on Oregon Department of Agriculture’s website here. If you are interested in
volunteering as a backup vessel out of Astoria, Garibaldi, or Newport for this round or participating in subsequent
rounds of testing if they are needed, please call or email Cathleen Vestfals (541-961-6924;
Cathleen.D.Vestfals@odfw.oregon.gov)
10/19 - Monday
We are lining up volunteer captains/boats coastwide to collect crab for meat recovery and domoic acid from all 12 crab harvest areas targeting the week of Nov 3, weather permitting. We plan to have observers onboard for all gear retrieval
trips to ensure testing protocols are followed. The ODCC will be offering a $3,000 stipend for each trip and ODFW will provide reimbursement for fuel and bait.
Tri-State area meat recovery results will be posted on this page just above this table when they are available. All crab domoic acid results are posted on Oregon Department of Agriculture's website here.
If interested in volunteering to participate in preseason testing, please give Cathleen Vestfals (541-961-6924) a call to discuss.
4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE :: Salem, OR 97302 :: Main Phone (503) 947-6000 or (800) 720-ODFW [6339]
Do you have a question or comment for ODFW? Contact ODFW's Public Service Representative at: odfw.info@odfw.oregon.gov
Do you need this information in an alternative format or language? Contact 503-947-6000 or click here.
