Recreational crab fishing delay impacts local businesses
Recreational crab fishing in California has officially been delayed and we’re learning the commercial season may also be in jeopardy.
This comes after high levels of a toxin were discovered in northern California waters.
“I’m eagerly awaiting the season to open,” said fishermen Frank Prats.
Local fisherman are putting their crab pots down for now and will not be heading out to fish this Saturday when the season was supposed to open.
On Thursday, the California Fish and Game Commission voted to delay the start of the recreational Dungeness crab fishing season.
“I’m frustrated that the season is stalled and I wish we would have known sooner,” said Prats.
Researchers say a toxic algae bloom in the northern Pacific Ocean is emitting high levels of demoic acid and is accumulating in the tissue of Dungeness crab making them unsafe for human consumption.
“I feel for the people that this is their livelihood and for the public who want to eat good crab,” said Prats.
“The most popular dish we have on our menu is an enchilada with crab,” said Haute Enchilada owner Kim Solano.
Solano says the crab season being delayed will definitely have an economic impact on her four restaurants in Moss Landing.
‘It worries me because those fishermen that have been working hard getting their traps ready won’t be coming in for lunch of course,” said Solano.
She worries that the price of crab may go up.
“We’ll will have to raise our prices,” said Solano.
There’s also a fear that people will be apprehensive to eat some of her popular crab dishes.
“Maybe we’ll take the crab off the menu, maybe we’ll just continue to buy from Washington and Oregon,” said Solano. “We’ll have to see what the impact is actually.”
Officials say the recreational crab fishing delay will be in affect for the next 180 days.
The commercial crabbing season is slated to open November 15 th , however state officials say they’re not sure when a possible delay will be announced.
