Alaska
ABOUT DUNGENESS CRABS When it comes to Alaskan crabs, the Dungeness ( Cancer magister ) may not get as much attention as the almighty Alaskan Red King crab, however, the mild, sweet taste, tender texture and favorable price point makes the Dungeness a very popular choice among seafood lovers. The average mature Dungeness crab measures 6-1/2” across its carapace and weighs approximately 2 pounds, with about 25% of their weight being pure crab meat. Plentiful along the pacific coast, Dungeness crabs are found as far north as the Aleutian Islands and as far south as Magdalena Bay, Mexico. They can be found in shallow estuaries to ocean depths of over 300 meters. In Southeast Alaska, Dungeness crabs represent the most important segment of commercial crab fishing. SUSTAINABILITY It wasn’t until the 1950s that Alaska’s commercial crab fishing really started to ramp up. In the early days, regulations were simply based on the three S’s — size, sex and season. That is to say, a crab could be legally harvested if it met the minimum size requirement, was a male and was in season. Over the years, management strategies have evolved, seasons were shortened and new rules were established. Today, the Dungeness crab population — like all Alaskan Fisheries — is carefully managed to ensure a healthy and sustainable future.
NEW RULES In 2005, the industry faced a major and controversial change when the Crab Rationalization Program (CR Program), proposed by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council went into effect. This changed crab fishing from a derby-style season to an individual fishing quota system. The program was designed to manage the total harvest numbers while allowing crews to work at a more relaxed pace and in safer conditions. The downside of this new system is that it has put many small boats out of business. While any change in regulation is likely to bring a mixed bag of praise and criticism, one thing we know is that the current system seems to be working well for the crab population. The 2020 – 2021 season yielded the 2nd largest haul of Dungeness crabs on record, 6.68 million pounds, which is more than double the ten-year average.
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