The start of the North Coast’s commercial Dungeness crab season has been delayed until at least Dec. 16 due to “poor crab meat quality test results,” according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

According to a release, more tests are tentatively scheduled to take place in the region around Dec. 1 and, if the conditions remain poor, another delay could be enacted until the end of the month.

"Last season, the northern Dungeness crab fishery was delayed until Jan. 15, the latest a quality delay can be extended," said CDFW Environmental Scientist Christy Juhasz in the release. "Results from our recent test are very similar to last year indicating that this delay may be extended past Dec. 16."

View the memo issued today by CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham here and testing results here.


Read the full CDFW release below:

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director Charlton H. Bonham issued a memo today delaying the northern California commercial Dungeness crab season due to poor crab meat quality test results. The delay includes Fish and Game Districts 6, 7, 8 and 9 (Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte counties).

The northern Dungeness crab fishery is delayed until 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, Dec.16, 2018 pending another round of test results tentatively scheduled for Dec. 1. If these results indicate good quality, the fishery will open and be preceded by a 64-hour gear setting period that would begin no earlier than 8:01 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018.

"Last season, the northern Dungeness crab fishery was delayed until Jan. 15, the latest a quality delay can be extended," said CDFW Environmental Scientist Christy Juhasz. "Results from our recent test are very similar to last year indicating that this delay may be extended past Dec. 16."

If the next round of quality tests remain low, the CDFW Director has the authority to delay the season an additional 15 days until Dec. 31. Under new legislation, CDFW can continue testing until Jan. 15.

Crab are evaluated to compare meat weight to total crab weight to determine whether they are ready for harvest under testing guidelines established by the Tri-State Dungeness Crab Committee. If results indicate poor crab quality, the CDFW director may delay the fishery under authority of Fish and Game Code Section 8276.2.

The southern Dungeness crab fishery opened on Nov. 15, except for the area from the southern boundary of Bodega Head State Marine Reserve, Sonoma County (38° 18' N. latitude) north to the Sonoma/Mendocino county line (38° 46.125' N. latitude) which was delayed due to domoic acid. Upon a recommendation from health agencies that domoic acid no longer poses a risk to public health, the CDFW director may provide a minimum 72-hours' notice before the gear-setting period and avoid a gear set date that lands on state and federal holidays.