Dungeness crab prices triple previous 2020 levels
For the first time in years, Humboldt County fishermen began the North Coast commercial Dungeness crab fishing season on schedule on Dec. 1. After a devastating commercial season last year, local fishermen are finally catching a break and prices are up.
“Last year, we caught very little crab and we basically sold all of our crab off the dock to the public just to get a better price to make ends meet,” said Patrick Burns, owner of Comet Fisheries. “This season, the price is about three times as much for crab in comparison to last year, one of the highest prices that we’ve gotten in an opener which makes a huge difference.”
However, Burns said he has already seen a decrease in numbers.
“It’s been mediocre for us this year so far. It’s not great, but it’s definitely a lot better than it was last year,” he said. “My prediction is the price will continue to go up, so even catching less crab we will still be able to make money. That really makes a difference because of the tremendous inflation we are seeing for fuel and parts. Everything is not only expensive but also scarce. There was a shortage of buoys this year and a lot of things were difficult to get ahold of.”
The 2021 Dungeness crab fishing season follows several years of delays to the season opener, generally associated with high levels of domoic acid in crab meat in addition to the presence of southbound migrating whales.
High levels of domoic acid found in Dungeness crabs during the 2015-16 season caused a six-month season delay on the North Coast and triggered the federal government to declare a fisheries disaster.
“Crab quality and domoic acid presence have been an issue in years past,” said California Department of Fish and Wildlife spokesperson Jordan Traverso. “In the northern regions, north of the Sonoma/mendocino county line, the season can be delayed for marine life presence (only the past couple years — monitored by aerial surveys), crab quality and/or domoic acid presence.”
Additionally, the season was delayed due to pricing, which “we had nothing to do with that,” Traverso noted. “There was one point where we had recommended opening seven days earlier than it did, but the fleet and working group asked us to stay closed,” she said.
In the last three years, Susan Rotwein, owner of Cap’n Zach’s Crab House in Mckinleyville, said litigation and new regulations from the Department of Fish and Wildlife involving migrating whales severely impacted the industry.
“The regulation surrounding migrating whales has really been devastating and unbalanced in terms of the fishery,” she said. “… The first year that we were shut down (in 2019), we only had an eight-week season because of litigation. The Center for Biological Diversity sued the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the result was that the Attorney General and the California Fish and Wildlife did not protect the Dungeness crab fishery and the fishing fleet. They basically threw us under the bus.”
That’s when the fleet ended up with an eightweek season as opposed to a nine-month season, Rotwein said.
“It was very sudden. Just imagine, someone says, ‘Hey, in 30 days, actually three weeks, you can no longer work or make a living. I know you had plans to until the middle of next summer but sorry, you can’t.’ That’s when the story began with the impacts, the litigation and regulation on the fishery,” she said. “Things are moving along on time for us right now but we have to put it in the big picture perspective.”
That being said, Rotwein said starting the season off with a fair price and high demand will only help the fleet.
“It’s a good start and I look forward to a long season,” she said. “…We’re really fortunate here on the North Coast to have such wonderful resources with the Dungeness crab fishery and other fisheries. We are really blessed that we’re able to harvest and provide to our local communities.”
Larry Oetker, executive director of the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District wished the fleet a successful and safe season.
“It is great to see all the crab boats go out at the start of the season, on time, with fair weather, and plenty of crab to catch. We encourage people to come to Woodley Island Marina and buy fresh local crab off the boat,” he said.
If the commercial season goes as planned, it will continue through the summer and wrap up on July 15 north of the Mendocino County line.
More information on the Dungeness crab fishing season can be found at wildlife.ca.gov.