4
The Columbia Press
December 17, 2021
Crab: Much of
haul too small
Continued from Page 1
violation of fishery regulations
and make clear that short crab
brought in through the fishery
will not be tolerated.”
In total, 11,778 pounds of
crab were measured, of which
2,682 pounds of the sampled
crab were found to be under-
sized. The value for the crab
at the time of landing was
$4.75 a pound, which would
make the estimated value of
undersized crab more than
$49,000.
The operation “highlighted
the opportunities where state
and federal law enforcement
entities can work together as
a force multiplier toward the
enforcement of state fish-
eries on the Oregon Coast,”
said Robert Grigsby, a Coast
Guard maritime enforcement
specialist. “Working hand and
hand with the OSP sends a
bright signal to the crab fleet,
that we are willing and able
to help each other for the en-
forcement of laws that enable
the sustainment of a fishery
critical to the Oregon econo-
my.”
Fourteen Coast Guard mem-
bers from Astoria helped with
the count.
“Without the willingness of
the USCG members to jump
in and assist, it would have
taken a significant number of
additional troopers from oth-
er patrol areas to sample this
offload,” OSP Lt. Ryan Howell
said.
Commercial crabbers are
not allowed to retain female
crab and may only take male
crab that are at least 6 ¼
inches, a law that has been in
effect since 1948.
The prohibition on the tak-
ing of female and undersized
male crabs is a key strategy to
maintain the sustainability of
the Dungeness crab fishery,
Oregon’s most lucrative fish-
ery.