Dungeness Crab Season Finally Opens

Good Times Santa Cruz ^ | January 3, 2023 | Erin Malsbury

[nickcarraway]

The season opens more than a month later than usual with new gear restrictions

New Year’s Eve marked more than just the start of 2023 for fishermen on the central coast. It was also the start of the commercial Dungeness crab season.

The fishery traditionally opened around November 15, but the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has delayed the season in recent years in an effort to reduce the number of whale entanglements. CDFW followed the delay this year with a 50% gear reduction, meaning fishermen must keep half their allotted traps on board.

Vertical fishing lines connect crab pots on the seafloor to buoys on the surface. The lines can entangle animals and pose dangers to three federally endangered species: humpback whales, blue whales and Pacific leatherback sea turtles.

In 2015, California created the Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear Working Group to address the entanglements. The group includes fishermen, scientists and nonprofits working together to make management recommendations to CDFW.

When a certain number of whales are spotted in a fishing zone, the group might recommend closures, trap reductions or depth restrictions.

The trap reductions are new.

“This is still kind of a test case,” says Geoff Shester, the California campaign director and senior scientist for the conservation organization Oceana. “It’s never really been tried before.”

Tim Obert, the Vice President of the Santa Cruz Commercial Fishermen’s Association, says many fishermen voted for the trap reduction, viewing it as better than further delays.

“If we don’t have entanglement issues with 50% gear reduction, maybe we can use that before the holidays next year, and then the guys can make up for some of the last years by getting a little more money per pound for the crabs,” he says.

One alternative to delays and gear reductions could be new rope-less traps that don’t use vertical lines. But many fishermen remain skeptical.

“It’s good for certain areas,” says Obert. In places with few boats like Monterey Bay, “you could have all 15 guys interact with each other and be proactive in letting each other know where they’re fishing.”

But he says things could get chaotic in areas with hundreds of boats, such as Halfmoon Bay and San Francisco. Without surface buoys, fishermen might unknowingly drop traps onto others, potentially causing malfunctions or waste.

Cost is another challenge.

“No one can afford it,” says Obert, adding that the new high-tech crab pots can cost anywhere from around $400 to $3000, while more traditional traps are typically under $300.

But Shester remains hopeful.

“With some collaboration, we haven’t seen a single one of these challenges or reasons not to use the gear that can’t be addressed by working together and providing funding opportunities,” he says.

In the meantime, Obert encourages anyone looking to buy crab to support local markets.

“We’re trying to be as safe as we can every day on the water,” he says. “But it’s tough to make a living like that sometimes.”

[HartleyMBaldwin]

Dungeness is the best-tasting crab there is, IMO. Been a long time since I’ve had any.

[Jolla]

When I lived in San Francisco crab was the big treat at Christmas parties and New Years.

[nickcarraway]

BUMP

[heavy metal]

was kinda under the impression that the kardashians kept the dungeness crab market open 24/7/365...

[llevrok]

The Dungeness season in Washington waters is delayed almost 4 weeks now because Fisheries say the crabs are not “fat” enough.

Expect to pay zillions when new crabs hit the market

[PIF]

Half their pots this year, half of the remained next year, continue until they go out of business - death by a thousand cuts to please the envirowackos and their gods.

[nickcarraway]

They were selling frozen crabs before this, I assumed from WA. CA crabs were on sale for about $8.99/lb this week, but after they ran out, they had frozen sections for $24.99/lb.

[Liz]

Crab Bisque

You can make the base of the soup up to 3 days ahead. But hold off on adding the crab until you’re planning on serving it.

INGREDIENTS 3 tbsp. butter 1 medium onion, finely chopped 2 stalks celery, finely chopped salt Freshly ground black pepper 1 tsp. Old Bay seasoning 2 cloves garlic, crushed 2 tbsp. tomato pureé 3 tbsp. flour 1 l fish stock (or low-sodium vegetable stock) 240 ml dry white wine 1 bay leaf 120 ml double cream 450 g lump crab meat Freshly chopped parsley, for garnish

DIRECTIONS In a large, heavy pot over medium heat, heat butter. Add onion and celery and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and Old Bay, then stir in garlic and tomato paste. Cook until garlic is fragrant and tomato paste coats vegetables, about 2 minutes. Sprinkle over flour and cook until absorbed, 1 minute more. Pour in seafood stock and wine, then stir in bay leaf. Reduce heat and let simmer until liquid is reduced and flavours meld, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes. Remove bay leaf.....immersion blender on high until very smooth. Return to med low heat....stir in double cream and half of crab meat, warm through 5 minutes. Divide among bowls and garnish with remaining crab meat and parsley before serving.

[PIF]

Dungeness is the best-tasting crab there is,
—

Live King or Golden King, cooked in ocean water, right off the boat are far better.

We can get them here in the Midwest frozen, but they are very expensive and are dehydrated - there is no ocean water to re-hydrate them. Fresh does not work very well - taste is off.

[crusty old prospector]

Now you’ve done it. I’m hungry now.

[HartleyMBaldwin]

I prefer Dungeness to king crab. Tastes differ, which is why I stated my preference as an opinion and not as a fact.

[Liz]

Sorry ‘bout that.

[PIF]

have you eaten either of the other two cooked live?

[crusty old prospector]

I think I have a can of soup that looks similar to that in the pantry.

[olivia3boys]

I like the Maryland blue crab or the white crab in Florida (expensive)

[HartleyMBaldwin]

No, and I likely won’t get the chance in Arizona. I form my opinions from what I have eaten. Perhaps I would prefer king crab prepared as you say, or perhaps not.

[Carriage Hill]

I buy from this place, overnite, all the time.

https://www.giosfish.com/crab?page=2

[DeathBeforeDishonor1]

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYY! Im sparked about this!

[DeathBeforeDishonor1]