Crab fishers on California's north coast are keeping their boats tied to the dock in an effort to get a higher price from wholesalers.
The Santa Rosa Democrat reports boat captains want more than the $2.50 a pound being offered, saying $3 a pound is being paid to crabbers working fisheries farther south.
Skippers who fish off Mendocino, Humboldt, and Del Norte counties say crabs are expected to be smaller than average this year, so they want a higher price.
The success of their holdout will depend largely on the timing of the commercial season in Oregon and Washington, which was delayed until December 16th because the crabs their are too small.
Pacific Seafood, the wholesalers' negotiator, did not return an email seeking comment.