Dungeness crab fishermen along the Oregon coast will begin setting their pots in the ocean at 8 a.m. on Friday, after an agreement was reached in the annual state-supervised crab price negotiations late Wednesday evening. The 2013/14 crab season will officially start at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, December 16th. The season was delayed 15 days after pre-season testing revealed that crab in two areas on the coast could use some additional time to fill with meat. Terms of the agreement, negotiated between the state’s five port crab marketing associations and five seafood processors under the supervision of the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA), have been reviewed and formally ratified by ODA Director Katy Coba, as required by statute. ODA Business Development Manager Jerry Gardner, who along with staff, supervised the negotiations, noted that this was the eighth time in the past 11 years the bargaining process has achieved a mutually agreeable opening price. This year’s price reflects a 15% increase over last year’s negotiated agreement. “I congratulate everyone involved for working hard to find common ground and get the job done in time to get this important fishery underway” Gardner said. Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission (ODCC) executive Director Hugh Link said “Based on the pre-season testing that has been done, there is no doubt that Oregon Dungeness crab are ready for market. Consumers can be assured that top quality Dungeness crab will be delivered to all Oregon ports.”
