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Crabbing still off limits for commercial, recreational crabbers in Southern Oregon By Dave Smigelski Updated: Dec 07, 2022 03:18 PM A A State shellfish managers have delayed the start of the commercial Dungeness crabbing season along the entire Oregon coast until at least Dec. 31 because of lack of meat on the crustaceans. [Kevin Clark/The Register-Guard via AP, File] NEWPORT — The ocean commercial Dungeness crab season will remain closed until at least Dec. 31 along the entire Oregon Coast after the second round of preseason testing showed crabs remain too low in meat yield and too high in domoic acid in some areas, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife reported Wednesday. Recreational crabbers also are barred from harvesting Dungeness crabs along the southern Oregon Coast — in both bays and the open ocean — where elevated domoic acid levels were still detected in some crab, said ODFW spokesperson Kelly Corbett, of the Marine Resources Program in Newport. Recreational crabbing is closed south of Takenitch Creek near Reedsport. Unsafe levels of domoic acid halted sport-crabbing in South Coast bays Nov. 18, and levels still remain above safety thresholds, Corbett said Wednesday. Round three of crab meat yield and biotoxin testing will occur next week and the week after. Results will help determine whether the commercial season opens Dec. 31 or is further delayed or split into areas with different opening dates. Targeted to open Dec. 1, Oregon’s ocean commercial Dungeness crab season can be delayed so consumers get a high-quality product and crabs are not wasted. Oregon, California and Washington coordinate Dungeness crab quality testing and the commercial season opening dates. California and Washington also are delaying their commercial seasons until at least Dec. 31. ODFW tests crabs out of Oregon’s six major crabbing ports in partnership with the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission, Oregon Department of Agriculture, and the commercial Dungeness crab industry. Recreational crabbing is permitted in bays and the open ocean north of Tahkenitch Creek, which is located about 8 miles north of Winchester Bay, Corbett said. Domoic acid is a naturally occurring toxin produced by microscopic algae. The algae concentrates in shellfish, and the acid can trigger amnesic shellfish poisoning in people. Symptoms include vomiting, nausea and abdominal cramps within 24 hours of ingestion. Corbett said tests are planned the next two weeks. Two consecutive tests following unsafe domoic acid levels are required for the recreational ocean fishery to reopen. The commercial season has two thresholds it must meet for opening. Not only must domoic acid levels be safe, but the crab’s percentage of meat — called meat-fill — must hit industry standards. The meat-fill tests are to judge how well Dungeness have rebounded after their summer molt. After the molt, the crabs fill with water as their shells harden and they grow new muscle. To meet market standards, a 2-pound crab must yield at least a half-pound of meat. The commercial Dungeness fishery is by far the most lucrative among Oregon fisheries, generating $73 million worth of landings as recently as 2020. Reach Mail Tribune Editor-in-Chief David Smigelski at 541-776-4484 or [email protected].