While California’s Dungeness crab fleet remains sidelined, waiting for delayed waters to open, Washington and Oregon fishermen are gearing up for their 2024-2025 seasons. Yet, commercial crabbers face another round of delays and challenges in Washington.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) recently charged a man with illegal harvesting in the North Sound, as revealed in a December 12 social media post. The man was found with 27 crabs, including 22 female Dungeness crabs and four undersized ones, all unlawfully harvested. "None were recorded on a catch record card," the WDFW noted. It’s a reminder of the strict regulations in place to protect the fishery, with recreational crabbers in Puget Sound required to document their catches, shared Seafood Source.

The crabs were returned to the water once officials reported the incident.

For the commercial fleet, WDFW continues to emphasize its commitment to both marine sustainability and fishermen’s livelihoods. The state’s Dungeness crab season has been delayed through at least December 30 due to low meat yields that don't meet the minimum recovery criteria. This follows a year of ongoing conservation measures aimed at reducing entanglement risks to marine mammals, with state and tribal co-managers working together to balance protection efforts with the needs of the industry. The WDFW’s Dungeness Crab Newsletter outlines these conservation updates and further explains the delays.

Washington’s fishermen are no strangers to this annual tug-of-war between conservation and commerce. As WDFW continues to evaluate the season’s potential, the ongoing struggle to manage the fishery’s health and the economy is clear. The state is working to refine its management strategies, including reevaluating the season after further testing by December 22.