Tag: dungeness

ODFW Issues Fleet Advisory for Dungeness Crab Fishery to Protect Whales
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ODFW Issues Fleet Advisory for Dungeness Crab Fishery to Protect Whales

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife officials have issued a fleet advisory for commercial Dungeness crab harvesters through May 31, urging vigilance to avoid setting gear in area where humpback whales are transiting or foraging to further minimize risk of entanglement.  ODFW is anticipating an above average crab harvest in May, based on the high volume of late-season tag purchases. Meanwhile, surveys conducted in Oregon waters from April 13 through April 25 observed scattered humpbacks and other large whales in waters deeper than 270 fathoms, primarily in the southern region from Newport to the Oregon-California border.  However one aggregation of about 30 to 50 humpbacks was observed within 40 fathoms, just outside the Columbia River mouth. Due to ocean dynamics and the rapid movem...
Processors, Crab Commission Say Dungeness Crab is Perfect for Valentine’s Day
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Processors, Crab Commission Say Dungeness Crab is Perfect for Valentine’s Day

Forget the flowers and candy. Oregon seafood processors and the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission say the perfect gift for your Valentine on Feb. 14 is fresh Dungeness crab. Their advice: get that Dungeness crab for you and the special people in your life for an exceptional dinner at home. The alternative: order your crab right off the menu at your favorite local restaurant. And, says Tim Novotny, executive director of the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission, you’ll also be showing you care about your own heart health. “A three-ounce portion of cooked crab yields 19 grams of protein and contains important minerals and amino acids, including Omega-1, proven to lower blood pressure, strengthen immunity and even improve arthritis symptoms,” Novotny said. The start of the season always featu...
Southern Oregon Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery to Open
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Southern Oregon Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery to Open

The remaining southern portion of Oregon’s coastline commercial Dungeness crab fishery, from Cape Arago, just south of Charleston, to the California border, is expected to open for harvesting on Saturday, Feb. 4th. The earliest a crab season may begin is Dec. 1, pending meat fill and biotoxin results. Officials with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) said 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.   The season opened on Jan. 15 from Cape Falcon to Cape Arago and is expected to open Feb. 1 from Cape Falcon to the Washington border. According to ODFW, the meat fill is now excellent statewide, yet domoic acid remains elevated in some portions of the southern coast. To ensure a good produc...
Jan. 15 Opener Set for Oregon’s Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery
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Jan. 15 Opener Set for Oregon’s Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) officials say they expect the state’s Commercial Dungeness crab fishery season to open from Cape Falcon to Cape Arago on Jan. 15, having passed required tests for those crabs being ready to harvest. The season opener from Cape Falcon north to Washington state, in accordance with the Tri-State protocol, is scheduled to open Feb. 1. ODFW officials said this past week that meat fill now meets or exceeds criteria in all areas of Oregon, and biotoxins are below alert levels in all crab tested from Cape Arago north. Domoic acid testing of crab was to continue from Cape Arago south to the California border. Test results through Jan. 7 showed elevated levels of the biotoxin in that area. ODFW works closely with the crab industry, the Oregon Dungen...
California Fish and Wildlife Schedules Marine Life Entanglement Risk Assessment
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California Fish and Wildlife Schedules Marine Life Entanglement Risk Assessment

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) plans to assess marine life entanglement risk for the commercial Dungeness crab fishery on or around Thursday, Dec. 22, using the Rick Assessment and Mitigation Program (RAMP). In addition, regulations adopted by the California Fish and Game Commission provide the CDFW director with authority to apply management actions to the recreational crab fishery to minimize entanglement risk informed by RAMP. CDFW officials noted that the California Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear Working Group was to meet Tuesday, Dec. 20 to review available data and CDFW’s assessment and management proposals. The department was then to consider all data made available to CDFW prior to determining whether the management actions currently in place to delay the commer...
Ocean Commercial Dungeness Crab Season Remains Closed in Oregon
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Ocean Commercial Dungeness Crab Season Remains Closed in Oregon

The ocean commercial Dungeness crab season remains closed in Oregon as round two of preseason testing is showing crabs are too low in meat yield in some areas. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said elevated domoic acid is still being detected in some crab viscera, and round three of crab meat yield and biotoxin testing is to occur in coming weeks. Those test results will help determine if the season will open Dec. 31 or is further delayed or split into areas with different opening dates. The season was targeted to begin on Dec. 1 but can be delayed so that consumers get a high-quality product and crab are not wasted, according to the ODFW. Oregon, California and Washington coordinate Dungeness crab quality testing and the commercial season opening dates. California and Washi...
Oregon Dungeness Crab Industry Public Meeting Set for Today, Oct. 19
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Oregon Dungeness Crab Industry Public Meeting Set for Today, Oct. 19

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Marine Resources Division will hold its Oregon Dungeness Crab Industry Public meeting today, Oct. 19, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the North Bend Public Library in North Bend, Oregon. Everyone is welcome to join the meeting in person or virtually via computer or by mobile app at https://tinyur.com/CrabMeet2022, via Microsoft Teams by entering meeting ID:285971280551, Passcode: 4BCCeD or by calling (audio only) 1-503-446-4951 and entering phone conference ID:26462035#. From 1:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. the meeting is expected focus on marine life entanglement, beginning with presentation of the conservation plan and an incidental take permit status update, including planned upcoming changes, advisory group status and a three-year evaluation of ri...
Crab Traps Banned For Remainder of Recreational Dungeness Season 
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Crab Traps Banned For Remainder of Recreational Dungeness Season 

Crab traps have been banned through the end of the 2022 recreational Dungeness season in California due to increased risk of whale entanglement.  The decision from California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Charlton J. Bonham came in mid-April, after Bonham had assessed entanglement risk under the Risk Assessment Mitigation Program and in accordance with regulations adopted by the California Fish and Game Commission for the recreational crab fishery.  The Dungeness crab fishing season ends on July 30 for Del Norte, Humboldt and Mendocino counties and for all other counties on June 30.  The trap restriction went into effect April 24 due to an unusually large numbers of humpback whales migrating back to California waters earlier than in previous years, and because of se...