The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA), working with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), will schedule commercial crab sampling. ODA will post forecasted sampling information and biotoxin test results on this page.
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Biotoxin status and sampling in commercial crab zones
Map of commercial crab zones with biotoxin status
Crab biotoxin lab results
Letter to Processors of Dungeness Crab
- The current round of sampling began on 5/14 for zones 50 - E, G, K and L. Zone 50 - E crab landed 5/15 all below the limit. K crab landed 5/16 all below the limit. L crab landed 5/17 all below the limit. Zone 50 - G crab landed 5/21 all below the limit.
- The next round of sampling is scheduled for the week of 6/04 and is to include zones E, G, H, I J K and L.
- Zones H and J landed 5/10 and zone I landed 5/11. All crab below the limit. Evisceration order for I, and H and J buffer zones has been lifted as of 12:01 am effective landing dates noted above.
- Zone 50 - I crab landed 5/4 with all results below the limit.
- Zone 50 - I crab landed 4/27 were above the limit. Meat results from zone 50 - I below the limit. Evisceration order in effect for zone 50 - I with zones 50 - H and J under evisceration as buffer zones. Zone I evisceration effective beginning 12:01 am April 27th. Zones H and J evisceration effective beginning 12:01 am May 1st. Crab must be eviscerated by a licensed ODA seafood processor and cannot be sold whole. Traceability measures must be in place and whole crab recalled.
- Zone 50 - J and K crab landed 4/21 with all results below the limit. Zone 50 - H crab landed 4/24 with all results all below the limit.
- Zone E crab landed 4/16 with results all below limit. Zone A crab landed 4/17 with results all below the limit. Zone L crab landed 4/16 with results all below the limit. Zone G crab landed 4/18 with results all below the limit..
- Current round of sampling for zones 50 - A, E, G, H, I, J, K and L began on 4/16.
- Results in for zones 50 - A, E, G, H, I, J, K and L. All below the limit for domoic acid in viscera.
- Zone 50 - A, E and K crab landed 3/26, and zone G, I and L crab landed 3/27. Zone H crab landed 3/28. Zone J crab landed 3/30.
- The current of sampling for zones 50 - A, E, G, H, I, J, K and L, began on 3/26.
- Zone 50 - A, H and I crab were landed on 3/7. Zone 50 - K and L crab were landed on 3/5. Zone 50 - E and J crab were landed on 3/8. Zone 50 - G landed 3/09. All results from all zones are below the limit for domoic acid in viscera.
- The previous round of sampling began on 3/5 for zones 50 - A, E, G, H, I, J, K and L.
- Call our samplers to provide a sample of 6 crab from zones being tested:
Zones A through F: Jim Moore at 971-281-1318 or Barb Cripe at 503-508-0437
Zones G through L: Neil Jensen at 541-290-2397 or Linda White at 503-949-3282
- Lifting an evisceration order in any zone with violative crab viscera requires two good sets of samples, at least one week apart. Buffer zones may only need one good set of samples.
Commercial Crab Status Table
| OR/WA border to Cape Falcon |
50-A |
| Cape Falcon to Cape Lookout |
50-B |
| Cape Lookout to Cascade Head |
50-C |
| Cascade Head to Cape Foulweather |
50-D |
Cape Foulweather to Waldport
|
50-E |
| Waldport to Heceta Head |
50-F |
| Heceta Head to Tahkenitch Creek |
50-G |
| Tahkenitch Creek to North Bend |
50-H |
| North Bend to Bandon |
50-I |
| Bandon to Cape Blanco |
50-J |
| Cape Blanco to Gold Beach |
50-K |
| Gold Beach to OR/CA border |
50-L |
Crab sampling frequently asked questions for 2022-2023
- Why are crab in-season domoic acid sampling protocols changing this year? The changes implemented this season are designed to minimize the time between sampling and receiving results.
- What changes to in-season testing are being implemented? Within
the first week of a crab sampling period ODA will target Sunday-Tuesday
to obtain samples. If samples are not obtained Sunday-Tuesday of the
first week of sampling ODA will allow for a 'bye' week.
- What is the 'bye' week for sampling? For
the first scheduled week of sampling, ODA will have already reached out
to the point of contact for the zone a sample is needed from the week
before. If a sample cannot be obtained by Tuesday of the sampling week,
industry will get a bye for the remainder of this week. ODA will not
seek or accept any crab sample beyond Tuesday for that first week
sampling is scheduled.
- What days are best for providing crab for sampling? Ideally,
crab samples delivered to shore on Sunday or Monday and provided to ODA
samplers on Monday or Tuesday should allow testing results to be
provided to industry before the weekend.
- I have crab from an area that is scheduled for sampling. Who do I contact? Fishermen: Contact your processor first, they can contact ODA to arrange delivery of crab samples. Processors/Buyers:
Call the ODA sampler listed in the email or link in the text message
(they are also listed in the paragraph above). They will arrange to
take delivery of the crab samples for testing.
- Should I still fish in a zone scheduled for sampling? Fishermen
should work with their buyers to determine what the company needs for
their respective markets. Fishermen and buyers should bear in mind that
it may be several days between when ODA announces a sampling week and
when a sample is actually obtained. Any management action, such as an
evisceration order, will date back to the sample landing date (at the
earliest), NOT when a sampling week begins. ODA will never recall crab
from a zone from the start of when sampling was announced. Any recall
would only affect crab landed on or after the date of landing of the
sample that triggered the recall.
- How will I know when a harvest area is going to be tested? ODA
announces the next anticipated sampling week, and which harvest areas
will be part of the testing, when they report the last round of sample
results through text, email, and updates on the ODA website. Closer to
the sampling date, ODA will send out a text or email alert as a reminder
of the upcoming sampling. Industry will also receive a text or email
alert once the sample has been obtained.
Commercial evisceration zones and orders
- Oregon crab:
- Currently there are no biotoxin restrictions for commercial crab harvest.
- Washington crab:
- Currently there are no biotoxin restrictions for commercial crab harvest.
Evisceration instructions
Here are the instructions for when an evisceration and/or recall order is in effect:
- Verify and record all crab received for the area/zone where it was harvested and the date of harvest
- Segregate and label affected crab
- Eviscerate (gut) crab prior to or after cooking
- Denature and destroy the viscera (guts) of the affected crab
- The viscera cannot be used, sold or given away for human or animal consumption or for use as bait.
- If you are not approved and licensed to eviscerate the crab you must
either send it to a licensed crab processor who is approved to
eviscerate crab, or denature and destroy the crab.
Commercial ODFW crab permit holders and ODA license holders are responsible for knowing the status of crab biotoxin zones. Check the ODFW website for commercial season openings and closures, license and permit requirements and commercial crabbing weekly updates.
The following zone status information is regarding biotoxin results
only. It does not refer to seasons, limits, or any other parameters
other than biotoxin status.
Commercial crab rule
ODA has adopted the crab rule
OAR 603-025-0410 to describe the process for monitoring domoic acid in Dungeness crab and determining harvest restrictions
.