Photo credit: KNKX
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 27, 2022
Contact: Tim Novotny (541)267-5810
Communications Manager
Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission
“Oregon Dungeness Crab Fishery Sets a Record”
Coos Bay, OR – Just eight weeks in to the 2021-2022 season, the commercial Oregon Dungeness Crab fishermen have already made this the highest grossing season on record. The current ex-vessel value of all landings has now topped $74.5 million, surpassing the previous record set in the 2017-2018 season.
As of January 25th, the Oregon Dungeness Crab fleet has now landed over 14.7 million pounds of crab, despite a few weeks of rough weather that limited fishing, and worker shortages in the processing facilities along the coast that have hampered their ability to handle as much crab as they would normally be able to take in.
“After a low landing season last year, in our cyclical industry, this shows once again the sustainability of Oregon’s iconic fishery,” ODCC Executive Director Hugh Link said. “From our first on-time start in seven years, to the all-time highest starting price ever in the Oregon Dungeness fishery, now this, this season has already been a tremendous success. And we want to thank and acknowledge our loyal consumers for their ongoing support of our fishermen and hope they continue to enjoy the delicious and nutritious bounty those fishermen bring from sea to plate.”
Using a conservative economic multiplier of two, it is estimated that the Oregon Dungeness crab fishery has already injected about $149 million into the state’s economy this season. And the season still runs through August 14th.
The previous record year of 2017-2018 reached its final ex-vessel value off total season landings of 23.1 million pounds of crab.
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The ODCC is an industry-funded commodity commission under the umbrella of the Oregon Department of Agriculture, representing
423 limited-entry Oregon crab permit holders in a “well managed and sustainably harvested fishery.” Our mission is to enhance the image of Oregon’s Dungeness crab industry and increase opportunities for profitability through promotion, education, and research. We strive to assist our fishery as it works to ensure a healthy ocean by maintaining the structure, productivity, function, and diversity of the ecosystem. Our commitment is to a sustainable fishery with long-term ecological benefits that will increase opportunities for success.
