Crabbers File Climate Change Lawsuit, Nov. 29

The Pacific Coast Federation of Fisherman Association has filed a lawsuit in California’s State Superior Court, San Francisco, against 30 fossil fuel companies alleging they are to blame for climate change, which has hurt their industry.  Among those named in the lawsuit were Chevron and Exxon Mobil.  Noah Oppenheim, executive director of the PCFFA says, “The scientific linkage between the combustion of fossil fuels and ocean warming, which leads to Domoic Acid impacts in our fisheries is clear.”  He went on to add, “We know it, and it’s time to hold that industry accountable for the damage they’ve caused.”  The Dungeness Commercial Crab Industry is the most valuable fishery in Oregon. In California, Dungeness Crab landings were worth $17 million in 2015, the first years the industry experienced major problems with Domoic Acid.  In 2016 fishermen rebounded with $83 million, but last year it dropped to $47 million.  There are nearly 1,000 Commercial Dungeness Crab permit holders in Oregon & California.