After delaying the full season by two weeks, the U.S. state of Oregon will open its southern coast to commercial Dungeness crab harvesting on 16 December.
"Oregon's crab fishery is an economic driver for coastal communities," Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Marine Resources Program Manager Justin Ainsworth said in a release. "I appreciate crab fishermen being patient as we tried to align our opening with Washington, but the best option now is to open up what we can."
The season delay was announced in November after preseason testing revealed lower than required meat yields in Long Beach, Washington. Despite meat yields surpassing requirements in Oregon testing, regulators decided to delay the 1 December season opening in coordination with Washington regulations.
Although Long Beach crab has still not reached the 23 percent meat fill requirement, Oregon has decided to open up its southern coast – from Cape Falcon to the California border – on 16 December. Commercial fishers operating in that area can begin dropping baited traps in the water beginning 13 December.
However, ODFW has issued a fleet advisory ahead of the season opening, warning crabbers to avoid setting their traps in areas where whales are either foraging or transiting to help minimize the risk of entanglements. According to the department, four humpback whales have been entangled in gear connected to the Oregon commercial Dungeness crab fishery in 2025 already.
“In all four cases, the fishery attribution was made based on presence of an ODFW main-season crab buoy tag through photos/videos of the animal with entangling gear and, in some cases, recovery of the gear. In three of the cases, the gear owner was able to be identified and has been or will be interviewed to glean as much information as possible about how the entanglement may have originated,” the department said in the alert. “ODFW has significant concerns about this rate of entanglements, particularly following the three confirmed humpback entanglements recorded in 2024.”
The advisory will remain in effect through February, unless otherwise rescinded.
The state’s northern coast will open in coordination with the Washington commercial season once Long Beach crabs meet that 23 percent threshold. The earliest opening date is 31 December, according to ODFW.
Elsewhere in the fishery, following public outcry and the threat of lawsuit, the U.S. Coast Guard has returned a rescue helicopter to Newport, Oregon, ahead of the season's start. The Coast Guard had moved the helicopter without explanation, prompting alarm from the Dungeness crab fishing community, who rely on the aircraft to respond during emergencies.
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) announced the helicopter’s return 4 December.
“Thanks to public pressure and action from the courts, the Coast Guard has committed to keeping the rescue helicopter in Newport for good, which is critical ahead of the start of crab season,” Merkley said.
