In Brief: Nov. 23, 2024
Published 11:48 am Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Commercial crab season delayed
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Oregon’s commercial Dungeness crab season has been delayed coastwide from Dec. 1 until at least Dec. 16 due to low meat yields and elevated domoic acid in crab viscera in two areas on the south coast.
The next round of meat yield and crab biotoxin testing will occur in the coming weeks and will help determine whether the season will start on Dec. 16 or will be further delayed or split into areas for different opening dates.
The recreational ocean Dungeness crab season is expected to reopen Dec. 1 as scheduled in areas with no elevated biotoxins.
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The commercial bay crab fishery, which is open from Cape Blanco to the Washington state border, closes on Dec. 1. The season runs through Dec. 31 but will only reopen in December if the ocean commercial season also does.
— The Astorian
Weather buoy redeployed
near river’s mouth
A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather buoy near the mouth of the Columbia River that had been inoperable has been redeployed, U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez announced.
Another buoy that had been inoperable was brought back over the summer.
The Washington state Democrat had reached out to the federal agency because commercial fishermen, bar pilots and others rely on the buoys for forecasts.
Coast Guard rescues man
on raft at river’s mouth
A U.S. Coast Guard Station Cape Disappointment boat crew rescued a man Sunday after his cataraft — a small two-hulled personal watercraft — began to drift out to sea in the Columbia River, in between the South Jetty and North Jetty.
Someone on shore noticed the man fall off his raft and called 911, the Coast Guard said on social media.
After recovering the man and raft, the crew proceeded back to the station, where the man was transferred to emergency medical services.
— Chinook Observer
Kotek offers condolences amid growing St. Helens school sex abuse crisis
Gov. Tina Kotek sent a letter to St. Helens on Thursday, offering condolences as the community continues to deal with allegations that educators sexually abused students.
Last week, police arrested two St. Helens High School teachers for allegedly sexually abusing students for years. The school’s principal and the district superintendent were placed on administrative leave.
Then on Thursday, police announced they had also received a report from the district alleging criminal conduct by a St. Helens Middle School teacher involving students.
Following that revelation, the school board announced it would be appointing an acting superintendent to address the rapidly escalating crisis.
— Oregon Public Broadcasting