Crab Biology	The Crabbing Industry	Market Forms

Crab Biology

The basic biology of the Dungeness crab is well known. Crabs grow by shedding their old shell, a process called molting. During their first two years, crabs molt several times. At a size of about 4", or by the third year of life, molting becomes less frequent, occuring only once each year. During an annual molt, a crab will grow about 1". Just after molting, crabs are very watery and soft and their shell is easily punctured. They dig into the sand and stay there for several days while their shell starts to harden. Approximately two to three months are required for an adult crab to completely harden and fill with meat. Most males molt during the summer and fall months, but the time can vary greatly by year and area.

Male crabs are active breeders at an age of three to four years and at a size of approximately 5 1/2". They will mate with several females. Mating takes place between a hard male and a soft, smaller female immediately after the female molts. A female produces up to 2.5 million eggs. Most crabs caught in the fishery are four years of age and have been sexually mature for one to two years. The 6 1/4 inch size limit and protection of females insures that the reproductive capacity of the population is protected.

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Oregon Dungeness Crab Industry

History:

Dungeness crab, reportedly named after a small fishing village on the Strait of Juan de Fuca in Washington state, have been harvested commercially along the Pacific Coast since the late 1800's. They range from central California to the Gulf of Alaska, and have long been part of the Northwest's seafood heritage.

Harvest Method:

Dungeness crabs are caught in circular steel traps commonly called "pots." Weighing anywhere from 60 to 125 lbs. and measuring 36" to 48" across, each pot has a length of line with a buoy attached to mark its position for retrieval. The posts are baited with herring, squid and razor clams to attract the bottom-dwelling crabs during the one-to-three day "soak" period. Dungeness crabs are kept alive in tanks until they are delivered to a shoreside processor. Only male crabs measuring at least 6 1/4" across the shell may be harvested. Small males and all females are returned live to the sea. The average boat fishes 250 to 300 pots, in depths ranging from 5 to 30 fathoms (30 to 180 ft.) of water.

Season:

The crab season on the Oregon coast begins on December 1, and continues through August 15. The peak harvest occurs during the first eight weeks of the season, with up to 75% of the anual production landed during this period. Effort decreases in the spring as fishermen gear up for other coastal fisheries, but fresh crab continues to be available throughout the summer months, thanks to a small number of boats that fish right up to the closure in August.

Annual Landings:

Oregon fishermen land, on an average, 10 million lbs. of Dungeness crab annually. Total production for the region, which includes Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California, weighs in at an annual average of 38.5 million lbs. Dungeness crab landings are cyclical. Oregon's harvest has fluctuated from a high of 18.3 million lbs. to a low of 3.2 million lbs. in recent years.

Catch Value:

The ex-vessel value of Oregon's Dungeness crab fishery fluctuates, with revenue ranging from 5.7 to 26.0 million dollars during a recent 10-year period. Ex-vessel prices ranged from $1.00 per lb. to $3.00 per lb. during this same period.

Vessels:

There are in excess of 350 vessels presently engaged in the crab fishery off the Oregon coast. They range from the small wooden troller with its two-man crew, to the large steel combination vessel with a four-man crew, capable of fishing around the clock in all kinds of weather.

Processors:

Most of Oregon's seafood companies purchase and process Dungeness crab during the course of the season. Some of the larger companies produce all market forms, are capable of volume orders and maintain frozen inventories for year-round sales. Other smaller companies specialize in specific market forms and targeted market niches. Many ship direct, for out-of-state orders.

Dungeness crab is the world's standard for super-premium crab. It is unmatched for quality, texture or taste. Dungeness crab is unique to the West coast of the United states where it is harvested nearly year round from the clean, cold waters of the Pacific ocean.

Fishermen harvest only prime male crab and deliver them live to processing plants where they are specially prepared for live air shipment or cooked and packed for fresh market. A variety of market forms are also frozen for year round supply. West coast Dungeness crab production is about 15 thousand metric tons annually.

The Dungeness crab is 20-25% meat by weight, yielding both leg and body meat. The succulent white meat is highly prized for crab cocktails, pastas, pastries, sauces and salads, or can be just as exquisite simply served right out of the shell.

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