Commercial Dungeness Crab Opens on N. Oregon Coast, Washington

Published 01/07/25 at 8:55 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Newport, Oregon) – Oregon coast officials have some good news for crabbing vessels on the north Oregon coast: they will have the go-ahead to start dropping bait on January 15. The area from Cape Falcon (about Manzanita) to Klipsan Beach on the Washington coast has been the last to get the green light after commercial crabbing slowly came back in various areas from the south coast up through southern Tillamook County. (Photo Seaside Aquarium: crab boat lights off Seaside in 2011)

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) announced the opening Tuesday.

“A fourth round of preseason testing in Long Beach, WA shows crab meat fill meets optimal commercial harvest criteria,” ODFW said.

On December 16, the crab fishery opened a little late from Cape Falcon down to the California border. Each year, officials aim for December 1. This time around the season was delayed because preseason testing showed crabs had meat yield that was as yet still too low. In four different areas this issue remained, as well as domoic acid in the guts (viscera) of crabs found on the south coast.

ODFW and the crabbing industry want to make certain the public gets a quality product. Officials are also trying make sure crabs do not get wasted, thus needlessly cutting down the population.

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ODFW said the region's commercial Dungeness crab fishery is sustainable due primarily to ODFW's "3 S's" management system.

“Season: while targeted to open Dec. 1, the season can be delayed or partially opened so consumers get a safe, high-quality product and crab are not wasted.

Tiffany Boothe / Seaside Aquarium

Sex: female crabs cannot be taken and are released unharmed to ensure future harvest and a healthy population.

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Size: only mature male crabs at least 6 ¼ inches across the back of the shell can be harvested. Smaller male crabs are released.”

Check ODFW’s website for more on Oregon’s commercial Dungeness crab fishery. MORE CRABBING PHOTOS BELOW

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Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast.

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