January 27, 2023 9:50 a.m.

Commercial Dungeness crab fishing opens February 4th on the remaining southern portion of Oregon’s coastline from Cape Arago, just south of Charleston, to the California border.

A release from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said the earliest a crab season may start is December 1st, pending meat fill and biotoxin results. This year, the season opener was delayed due to crab in some areas with low meat fill or high domoic acid levels in crab viscera. It opened January 15th from Cape Felton to Cape Arago and opens February 1st from Cape Falcon to the Washington border.

ODFW said meat fill is now excellent statewide yet domoic acid levels remain elevated in some portions of the southern coast. To ensure a great product for consumers, some parts of this area may open with an evisceration requirement.

While the season will open February 4th from Cape Arago south, the “biotoxin management zone” location and timing will be dependent on results of on-going biotoxin testing. Current test results are below alert levels, but additional testing is required to remove any need for evisceration. The Oregon Department of Agriculture tests crab and other shellfish for biotoxins throughout the season.

ODFW’s Marine Resources Program Manager Caren Braby said, “Opening the crab season in any area with an evisceration requirement is not ideal. However, we need to get the fishery going for the vessel crews who are waiting for paychecks and to avoid the on-coming migration of whales”.

For more information about Oregon’s shellfish marine biotoxin monitoring, call ODA’s shellfish safety information hotline at 800-448-2474.