Crabbers

Published on: December 17, 2024

Man Charged with Illegally Harvesting 27 Dungeness Crabs in Washington

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has apprehended an individual for illegally harvesting Dungeness crabs in the North Sound area of Washington State. A WDFW officer observed the person crabbing from a local pier and conducted an inspection, uncovering 27 Dungeness crabs in the individual’s possession. Of these, 22 were female, which is prohibited to protect the species’ reproductive capacity. Four were undersized, failing to meet the state’s legal size requirements. None of the crabs were recorded on a catch record card, a mandatory requirement for recreational crabbers in Puget Sound to monitor and manage crab populations effectively. After documenting the illegal catch, officials returned the crabs to the water.

This incident highlights the importance of adhering to state regulations designed to preserve Dungeness crab populations. The ban against harvesting female and undersized crabs is a conservation measure aimed at ensuring the species’ sustainability. By allowing female crabs to remain in the ecosystem, the reproductive cycle continues without interruption, supporting future generations. Similarly, protecting undersized crabs enables them to reach maturity and contribute to the population before becoming eligible for harvest.

The requirement for recreational crabbers to use a Dungeness crab catch record card is another vital requirement of the state’s management strategy. These records provide WDFW with essential data to assess crab populations and make informed decisions regarding season openings, closures, and catch limits. Non-compliance with this requirement impedes the department’s ability to manage the fishery effectively, potentially leading to overharvesting and long-term ecological consequences.

Published on: November 26, 2024

Oregon’s Dungeness Crab Season Delayed Until Mid-December

by Joseph Stacey

Crab season will begin later this year, as the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) announced a coastwide delay for the state’s commercial Dungeness crab season. Originally set to open on December 1, 2024, the season has been postponed until at least December 16, 2024.

The decision comes after pre-season testing revealed two issues: low meat yields in some ocean areas and elevated domoic acid levels in the crabs’ digestive systems in parts of the south coast. These findings prompted the delay to ensure consumers receive a high-quality product and to avoid wasting this treasured resource.

In addition, the commercial bay crab fishery—which is currently open from Cape Blanco to the Washington border—will close at 12:01 a.m. on December 1, 2024. Although this fishery typically runs through the end of December, it will only reopen if the ocean commercial season begins before the end of the year.

Published on: November 5, 2024

2025 Tanner Crab Harvest Quota Limit Set by ADF&G

by Nigel Stacey

Kodiak’s fishing community is preparing for the 2025 Tanner crab season, a staple of Alaska’s crab fisheries. In a press release, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) has set the start date for the Tanner crab fishing season in the Kodiak District and South Peninsula for January 15, 2025, with a quota limit of 560,000 pounds, an immense reduction from previous season’s quotas. Chignik and the South Peninsula Western district will remain closed.

In 2024, Kodiak’s Tanner crab fishery brought in an impressive 3.48 million pounds, a substantial figure that fueled local economies and maintained Kodiak’s reputation as a critical hub for Alaskan crab.

The crab population from this cohort reached its peak in 2023, when Kodiak’s fishing fleet was able to harvest an unusually high quota of 5.8 million pounds. The sharp reduction in the current season’s quota reflects changes in the Tanner crab population and ADF&G’s commitment to sustainable fishery management.

Published on: October 22, 2024

Alaska Opens Snow Crab Fishery for First Time in Two Years, Allowing 4.7 Million Pound Harvest

by Nigel Stacey

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) announced that the Bering Sea snow crab fishery will reopen after being closed for two years, allowing fishermen to harvest approximately 4.7 million pounds of snow crab. This decision follows an assessment that the population of mature male crabs has increased above the threshold necessary to support sustainable fishing.

The 2024/25 Bering Sea snow crab fishery opened in Bering Sea District waters west of 165° W longitude at 12:00 noon on October 15, 2024 and will close at 11:59 p.m. May 15, 2025 in the Eastern Subdistrict (east of 173° W longitude), and close at 11:59 p.m. May 31, 2025 in the Western Subdistrict (west of 173° W longitude).

The reopening of the snow crab fishery comes as a relief to many in the fishing industry, especially those in coastal Alaska communities that rely heavily on the income generated by the snow crab harvest. The fishery was closed for the past two years due to sharp declines in the crab population, which raised concerns about overfishing and environmental changes affecting the crab habitat. In 2021, the ADF&G took the extraordinary step of shutting down the snow crab fishery after population surveys revealed a dramatic crash in crab numbers, likely linked to rising ocean temperatures, reduced sea ice, and ecosystem changes.

Published on: October 8, 2024

Ropeless Crab Gear Trial

by Joseph Stacey

The recent trial of innovative ropeless crab fishing gear off the California coast has ignited controversy among the Dungeness crab fishing community. The trial, which ran from April 9 to June 30, 2024, allowed a limited number of commercial crabbers to use ropeless gear to harvest during a time typically restricted to protect whales and crabs. While the technology has been hailed by some as a major breakthrough in reducing whale entanglements, others in the community view it as a complication in an already strained industry.

The trial, the largest of its kind to date, focused on testing “pop-up” fishing gear designed to eliminate the need for traditional buoy lines, which are known to cause entanglements for marine mammals such as whales. Instead of using long lines of rope that extend from the ocean floor to a surface buoy, ropeless systems employ underwater cages that release to the surface when remotely activated by the fishermen. This eliminates the vertical ropes, which have been identified as a major hazard for migrating whales that can become trapped.

Whale entanglements in traditional crab fishing gear have become an increasingly urgent concern over the past decade, leading to frequent delays and shutdowns of the crabbing season in California. In recent years, crabbers have faced shortened seasons, which often fall during critical whale migration periods. As a result, the fishing industry has been under pressure to find solutions that balance both marine conservation and the economic sustainability of crab fishing. Proponents of ropeless gear argue that the technology offers a new way to allow crabbing to continue while protecting endangered species like humpback and blue whales.

Published on: January 30, 2024

Ilwaco Community Salvaging Crabbing Season After Fire

by Joseph Stacey

On Monday, January 22^nd, 2023, at about 11 AM, calls flooded 911 dispatchers with reports of a blaze at the Ilwaco Landing Cannery. The Ilwaco Fire Department, headed by Fire Chief Jeff Archer, promptly responded to the distress calls. The fire originated on the Ilwaco Landing wharf, situated over Baker Bay waters near the mouth of the Columbia River.

The blaze engulfed nearly all structures on the Ilwaco Landing wharf, including the cannery building, crab pots, vehicles parked on the dock, and the dock itself. The fire resulted in a complete and total loss.

The 2024 Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishing Season begins this week on February 1^st, which means the crabbing fleet was busy staging for their season. Approximately 8,500 commercial crab pots, equipped with ropes and licenses, were assembled on the dock in anticipation.

Published on: October 14, 2023

Red King Crab Harvesting Opens in the Bering Sea

by Nigel Stacey

After a two-year closure due to insufficient stock levels for fishing, the Bristol Bay red king crab fishery in Alaska is scheduled to reopen at noon on October 15, 2023. The established quota for this reopening is 2.15 million pounds, slightly less than the 2.6 million pounds set in 2020.

Jamie Goen, executive director of Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers, said members are happy to return to their work on the water. However, they are committed to ensuring minimal impact, aiming for the sustainability of the crab resource for future generations.

“They are tracking closely the science around the health of crab stocks and want to help crab continue to rebound,” she said. We’re adding extra measures this season during our directed pot fishery for crab to reduce our interactions with crab. We’re increasing communication with the fleet on best handling practices, clean fishing areas, and opportunities to share gear.”

Published on: October 16, 2022

Alaska’s Bering Sea Snow Crab & King Crab Seasons Canceled

by Nigel Stacey

Officials in Alaska have cancelled the autumn Bristol Bay red king crab harvest as well as the winter snow crab harvest. After a summer population survey showed dismal stocks, the difficult decision to cancel was announced by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Biologists and senior agency officials alike agreed that this is the best decision amid deep conservation concerns.

“Management of Bering Sea snow crab must now focus on conservation and rebuilding given the condition of the stock,” the Alaska Department of Fish and Game said in a statement. “Efforts to advance our science and understanding of crab population dynamics are underway. With crab industry input, ADF&G will continue to evaluate options for rebuilding, including potential for sustainably fishing during periods of low abundance.”

Snow crabs are a cold-water species, usually found in areas where water temperatures are below 2 degrees Celsius. The snow crab population collapse is still being investigated; however, scientists believe the 2019 warming of the Bering Sea has caused a change in the crabs’ metabolism, which is leading to starvation. Warmer waters may also be advantageous to certain predators, further decreasing crab stocks. Last year’s harvest was the smallest in 40 years, with a 5.6 million pound harvest.

Published on: December 7, 2021

Thank a Fisher Today

by Joseph Stacey

People all over the world have a longstanding tradition of feasting on seafood during winter holidays. Crab, salmon, lobster, oysters, shrimp, cod, carp, and lutefisk all have a place at the holiday table. It is important to remember that a courageous and hardworking man or woman braved the hazardous waters of the oceans and seas to bring that delicacy to your table. Whether you celebrate Chinese New Year, feast on Scandinavian inspired lutefisk, or enjoy the Feast of the Seven Fishes, the tradition of seafood during the holidays deserves a special thank you.

The celebration of the Chinese New Year always features fresh fish, a symbol of surplus and wealth. Linguists believe this is because the Chinese word for “fish” (yú) has the same pronunciation as the Chinese word for “abundance” or “extra.” Serving a whole fish at the end of a Chinese New Year meal with head and tail intact, carries the added symbolism of a good beginning and ending to the new year.

In Scandinavian homes, lutefisk, cod cakes, and oyster stew were old world foods brought to the Midwest by new immigrants. Lutefisk (cod that has been preserved in lye then rinsed well before cooking) is served during holidays as a way of remembering the poverty of the past. According to Hasia Diner, a professor of immigration history at New York University, consuming lutefisk is a way of honoring previous generations, those who came to this country looking for prosperity, opportunity, and a better life.

Published on: January 22, 2019

Coast Guard Announces Official Investigation into F/V Mary B II Capsizing

by Joseph Stacey

The U.S. Coast Guard has announced that it will formally investigate the sinking of the F/V MARY B II, which capsized near Newport, Oregon along the Yaquina Bay bar on January 8th. Three men died as the result of the sinking of the 42-foot vessel. It was reported that prior to the accident, the crew called for a Coast Guard escort due to heavy weather and 14 to 16 f00t waves. Tragically, before the escort reached the vessel, it capsized.

Rear Admiral David Throop has authorized the investigation. He is the Commander of the Thirteenth Coast Guard District which is headquartered in Seattle, Washington. Rear Admiral Throop is responsible for all Coast Guard operations throughout the Pacific Northwest including protection of life and property, enforcement of federal laws and treaties, preservation of living marine resources, and promotion of national security. The Thirteenth District is made up of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana, and includes over 4,400 miles of coastline.

Commander Karen Denny, who has over 18 years of experience investigating marine casualties with the Marine Safety Unit Portland, will lead the investigation. Commander Denny will then issue a report which will detail collected evidence, conclusions, and safety recommendations that could help prevent future accidents of this kind.