The December season of crabs open with perfect time and stock but somehow the storms kept the crabbers away from gaining good profits. According to researchers the season begins with a decent price, perfect pre-soak, and quality crustaceans fostered high expectations. But unexpected winter storms have created havoc among the crabbers as they failed to land their quarry in perfect order and place.
The current price of crab is $2.50 per pound, a bit higher than the opening price reached during a pre-season negotiation between crabbers and processors. Hugh Link, administrative assistant for the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission (ODCC), said that the fishermen had faced some bad stretches of weather.
Till date the crabbers had landed 8,132,252 pounds of Oregon’s signature crustaceans – with more than 3.3-million pounds brought into Newport. According to Link the next landing could be a bit higher from the present one. He informed that after two seasons of turmoil in crab catching, crabbers had hoped for much more from aseason with such a promising beginning.
Dickey Melton, a crab seller, said that the season is right and in its peak for crabbers and the quality of crab is good but getting these crabs are difficult for the crabbers due to bad weather.
