Residents in the U.S. state of Oregon could soon opt to have Dungeness crab featured on their vehicles’ license plates.
The Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission has begun a push to have a specialty Dungeness crab license plate put into production, allowing Oregonians to showcase the popular West Coast shellfish on their vehicles. The design features a bright orange Dungeness crab on a light blue background.
In order to begin production, however, the commission needs to prove that there is substantial interest in the new specialty license plate. Pre-sales for the plates have begun, and production will begin once the commission has sold 3,000 vouchers. Vouchers are being sold for USD 40 (EUR 36) each, and buyers will be able to redeem them at Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles locations once production has been authorized.
“By purchasing this specialty plate, you’re not only adding a unique touch to your vehicle but also supporting vital programs that sustain and promote Oregon’s Dungeness crab fishery,” the commission states on its website.
Dungeness crab is Oregon’s most lucrative commercial fishery; fishers hauled in nearly 25 million pounds of crab in the 2023-2024 season, generating USD 93.6 million (EUR 84.7 million) in ex-vessel value according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Originally slated to start on 1 December, the 2024-2025 Dungeness crab season was delayed by several weeks due to low meat levels found during pre-season testing. The southern coast opened for commercial harvesting 16 December, and once testing showed that the crabs had reached optimal commercial harvest criteria, state regulators opened the rest of the state on 15 January.
Oregon wasn’t the only state to delay its season; both Washington and California suffered delays. Washington pushed back its start date due to low meat yields, opening part of the state on 15 January in coordination with Oregon and then opening the rest of the state on 11 February. California’s season was delayed due to the presence of humpback whales, which can become entangled in the vertical lines used in pot fisheries like Dungeness crab. The California season partially opened on 5 January, with the rest of the state opening 15 January.
