News: Commercial Dungeness crab season on hold in Oregon, Washington

By The Associated Press  posted in OREGON BUSINESS NEWS

ASTORIA — The commercial Dungeness crab season had been set to open Monday in most of Oregon and Washington state, but price negotiations and ocean conditions kept boats at home.

Crabbers told The Daily Astorian that major processors initially offered crabbers $2.30 a pound — well below last season's average starting price of $2.89 a pound.  Read All

The late start to the commercial crabbing season has been a blow to the coastal economy in Oregon and Washington. Crews who spent months preparing pots and loading boats have yet to be paid and restaurants hoping to offer locally caught crab are still waiting.(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images )