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Don't Fire Up The Kettle Yet...Dungeness Crab Season Delayed Until Year's End

Crab fisherman evaluating their catch.
David Parker
/
Flickr.com
Crab fisherman evaluating their catch.

If you were hoping to serve Oregon Dungeness Crab at your New Year’s celebration, you’ll want to change the menu. State officials have announced a nearly one-month delay in the commercial crabbing season. KLCC’s Brian Bull reports.

Crab fisherman evaluating their catch.
Credit David Parker / Flickr.com
/
Flickr.com
Crab fisherman evaluating their catch.

Recent testing across the Tri-State region shows crabs aren’t really meaty yet.  And some sampled between Cape Blanco to the California border showed elevated levels of domoic acid.

Dungeness crabs in captivity.
Credit Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife / Flickr.com
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Flickr.com
Dungeness crabs in captivity.

Troy Buell of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife explains why it’s important to monitor for this.

“Domoic acid is a neurotoxin that can cause amnesic shellfish poisoning.  And it is important to ensure that all the seafood supply coming from the ocean to consumers in the marketplace is safe.”

The season was set to open December 1 st, but now is delayed until the 31 st.  But further testing will determine if Dungeness Crab season needs to be delayed further.  Last year, 23 million pounds’ worth of the crustacean was landed in Oregon.

Copyright 2018, KLCC.

Copyright 2018 KLCC

Brian Bull joined the KLCC News Team in June 2016. He is a 20-year reporter who has worked at NPR, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Wisconsin Public Radio, and ideastream in Cleveland. His reporting has netted dozens of accolades, including three Edward R. Murrow Awards and the Ohio Associated Press' Best Reporter Award in 2012.