Crabbers Could Crack the Record
Oregon Dungeness Crab ready for sale
EUGENE, OR – Oregon’s Dungeness Fishermen are on track to meet or beat their record catch of nearly 16 million pounds of crab for December. The all time record for December was set in 2004. KLCC’s Rachael McDonald reports.
Normally, about 80 percent of the total catch is hauled in during the first 8 weeks of Dungeness season. Crab fishermen Al Pazar owns two fish markets, one in Florence, the other in Newport.
Pazar: “I think we’re off to one of our best starts ever. The crabs are very full of meat. And it’s just been a good start for everybody. It’s been a nice holiday season for the coastal communities, all the people that rely on the crab fishery.â€
Crab is a popular holiday dish on the west coast. Pazar says customers are getting a good price this year at around $4.99 a pound. He hopes the Marine Stewardship Council will certify Oregon Dungeness Crab as a well-managed sustainable fishery.
Copyright 2009 KLCC.
On the web: Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission
To listen to this piece at Northwest Public Radio go to: http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=6610
