MONTESANO—The Directors of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife made a decision on Nov. 22 to delay the opening of the 2013-14 Coastal Dungeness crab fishery from the Oregon-California border north until at least December 16, 2013.
The target opening date for state fishers is set annually for December 1, which is then altered if necessary, based on when Native fishers begin their harvest and whether or not crab meat recovery meets state-set minimum recovery criteria.
This decision is based on crab condition tests conducted by agency staff in Washington and Oregon that show that some tests do not meet the minimum meat recovery criteria.
10 days between tests
The newly revised Tri-State Dungeness crab Pre-Season Testing Protocols specify that after the first round of testing, if any area does not meet the minimum meat recovery criteria (23% north of Cascade Head and 25% south of Cascade Head) a second test is required.
Note that the revised testing protocols specify that a minimum of 10 days must elapse between tests. Washington was unable to meet that 10-day criteria and still provide sufficient notification to industry regarding the opening.
October test results
Additionally, given the low meat recovery rates in these test areas, it was decided that allowing for more time for crab to fill out prior to the second test is appropriate.
WDFW completed the October portion of the pre-season test fishing for coastal Dungeness crab shell condition and meat recovery in the Long Beach area on Oct. 29 and the stations in the Westport Test Area on Oct. 22.
The standard WDFW coastal Dungeness crab testing fishing protocol was followed. Crabs were collected from three stations at each area. Strings of pots were set at 15, 30, and 45 fathoms at each station. All legal-sized male crab caught were included in the meat recovery sample.
While aboard the charter vessels, WDFW staff collected shell condition data from crab collected from all depths and stations.
The meat recovery results for all stations are summarized below:
• Test Area 1A: Westport - 9.7%; Long Beach – 14.7%
• Test Area 1B: Westport – 20.6%; Long Beach – 16.9%
• Test Area II: Westport - 69.6%; Long Beach – 68.4%
• Test Area III: Westport – 0%; Long Beach – 0%
• Combined meat recovery average: Westport – 20.9%; Long Beach – 21.0%
Next announcement by Dec. 7
A second round of testing will be conducted in Washington and Oregon in early December with a target date for an announcement to industry regarding the opening or need for additional testing by December 7th.
WDFW is grateful to the fishers and processors who provided the key cooperation needed to allow the Washington testing to be conducted successfully.
Northern California opens Dec. 1
The Northern California Dungeness crab season will open on Sunday, Dec. 1, north of the Mendocino County line. Anyone fishing for crab in California prior to the delayed openings in Oregon and Washington is prohibited from participating in those crab fisheries for 30 days following their openings.