Crabbing

Shellfish growers in Willapa Bay in southwest Washington, the self-styled "Oyster Capital of the World," are alarmed by an invasion of potentially destructive nonnative European green crabs. Some are asking for an all-out trapping offensive to corral the invasive species.

Dungeness crab is the most valuable single-species fishery commodity in Oregon. The 2021-2022 season was one of the best on record, with fisherfolk bringing in $91.5 million worth of the crustaceans. But that's not always the case. This 2022-2023 season opened more than six weeks later than anticipated.

Oregon’s commercial Dungeness crab season opens Jan. 15 for much of the coast after a weekslong delay.

This season’s harvest of Dungeness crab in Oregon has exceeded last year’s already, in just one month.

In past years, high levels of domoic acid or insufficient meat fill in sampled crab were cited as reasons for delaying the opener, which is Dec. 1.

Crabbing is Oregon’s most lucrative – and dangerous – fishing market. With a federal grant, an Oregon State University team will research how to make the work safer.

The designations would require an extra layer of scrutiny for federally permitted projects within the habitat areas.  

A fishing town on Oregon's South Coast attempts to rise above toxic algae and a volatile ocean economy.

An invasive crab native to Europe has been found for the first time in Washington's Puget Sound after growing steadily along the West Coast.

The opening of commercial crabbing season in Oregon, Washington, and California is delayed this year because of a toxin found in crabs at some locations.