Commercial crabbing along the Oregon Coast this season is the best it has been since 2005-06; however, the average price being paid fishermen by processors is still less than half of what last year’s starting price was according to the Executive Director of the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission at Coos Bay. Tim Novotny says it has been a “wild and wooly year” for the 424-vessel fleet. As of last week, 25-million lbs. have been landed at the six-processing ports along the Oregon Coast. The annual landing average for the fleet is in the neighborhood of 16-million lbs. The season got off to a late start, January 15th, from Cape Falcon on the North Oregon Coast to Cape Arago on the South Coast, due to a low meat content and high levels of a deadly toxin. The remainder of the South Coast to the California border opened Feb. 4th. Adding to the delays has been the Winter weather this season. It has been difficult as well as dangerous. The current price paid to commercial fishermen as of last week was $2.43, Novotny says that is down from $4.97 opening price last year. “The guys are still hurting.” He hopes; however, that consumers are taking advantage in the stores to “enjoy one of the World’s great delicacies at unbelievably low prices.” The Commercial Dungeness Crab Season typically runs from December to August, but the “Lion’s Share” is normally landed during the first two months.
