The coastline to the north from Cape Falcon to the Washington border opens for commercial crabbing Feb. 1. The south coast from Cape Arago to the California border is set to open this Saturday.
The commercial season was delayed this year due to crab with low meat fill and high domoic acid levels.
According to officials with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, meat fill is now excellent. However, low levels of biohazardous domoic acid are traceable in crabs along some sections of the south coast.
Testing continues, but if acid levels remain elevated, some crabbing areas will open under an “evisceration requirement” to protect consumers. That means crabs caught commercially must be gutted by a licensed Oregon Department of Agriculture seafood processor and cannot be sold whole.
Domoic acid is a dangerous biohazard associated with algal blooms. The acid accumulates in the guts of the crab, so crabs harvested commercially in these areas, called “biotoxin management zones,” must be gutted and cleaned before being sold.
In a statement, ODFW’s marine resources program manager, Caren Braby said “opening the crab season in any area with an evisceration requirement is not ideal.” She also stated the importance of getting the “fishery going for vessel crews who are waiting for paychecks and to avoid the on-coming migration of whales.”
Braby further stated, “We are fortunate in Oregon to have a system that allows this fishery to harvest through biotoxin events and provide a safe, delicious product. Biotoxin events are occurring more frequently due to changing ocean conditions, so we are prepared for the future with our Oregon system.”
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