© 2024 KLCC

KLCC
136 W 8th Ave
Eugene OR 97401
541-463-6000
klcc@klcc.org

Contact Us

FCC Applications
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

It's Crabbin' Time...For At Least Part Of The Oregon Coast

Hugh Link
/
Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission

After a roughly two-week delay, Oregon’s commercial Dungeness crab season is underway (Dec. 18) along the south coast.  As KLCC’s Brian Bull reports, the outlook is positive.  

  

The season would have started December 1st, but after some sample catches showed high levels of domoic acid – a toxin attributable to warm water and algae blooms – state officials postponed the opener.

Hugh Link is Executive Director for the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission.  He says crabs harvested south of Cape Blanco have been deemed safe by state agriculture officials.

“And we’re working on retesting the rest of the areas in Oregon so we can get them open as soon as soon as they test good.” 

Link adds the opening price negotiated for Dungeness crabs is $3.00 a pound, the second highest since two years ago, which was $3.10 a pound.   

Credit Brian Bull / Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission
/
Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission
Dungeness crabs.

Despite the late opening, Link says he expects the state crustacean to grace many buffets and tables this holiday season.

“I think of people spreading the newspapers out the table and grabbing a bottle of wine, and some French bread, and a salad, and drawing the butter," says Link.  

"And it’s a big tradition among a lot of families, and we’re glad to get some of that Oregon Dungeness crab on the Christmas table.” 

Last season, more than 14 million pounds of crab were harvested, valued at $51 million. 

Brian Bull is an assistant professor of journalism at the University of Oregon, and remains a contributor to the KLCC news department. He began working with KLCC in June 2016.   In his 27+ years as a public media journalist, he's worked at NPR, Twin Cities Public Television, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Wisconsin Public Radio, and ideastream in Cleveland. His reporting has netted dozens of accolades, including four national Edward R. Murrow Awards (22 regional),  the Ohio Associated Press' Best Reporter Award, Best Radio Reporter from  the Native American Journalists Association, and the PRNDI/NEFE Award for Excellence in Consumer Finance Reporting.
Related Content