This year’s official negotiations for a price and an industry-sanctioned start for the Oregon Dungeness Crab season wrapped up Tuesday, and the Oregon Department of Agriculture has just released the details of their agreement. 

Two options were developed by consensus at the state-supervised talks, spelling out how the season will proceed after a final round of quality testing. A third made plans for any areas not yet meeting minimum requirements:

Following tests that validate the “meat-fill” requirement for crab harvested along the Oregon coast, the price for crab is $1.65 per pound effective immediately.

If the fishing fleet waits until Dec. 12 to commence harvest (with reasonable pre-harvest soak times for harvest pots) the price is $1.675 per pound.

If the validation tests show one or more ports have “meat-fill” rates that are below state minimum levels, the bargaining council will develop a consensus price to be forwarded to the ODA Director for consideration.

Weather permitting, fresh crab should start showing up at retail seafood counters around the state in plenty of time for the upcoming holidays, ODA said in a statement today.

The Dungeness crab fishery is the most valuable commercial fishery on the Oregon coast. Last season’s harvest produced landings of more than 23 million pounds and an ex-vessel’ value of nearly $45 million dollars. Early indications show another strong harvest for Oregon’s crab industry, which will allow consumers nationwide to enjoy the official “State Crustacean.”