Dungeness crab prices up

Preliminary prices for Dungeness crab are in and a bit higher than last year’s.

The average price for the first week was “a solid” $3 per pound throughout Southeast Alaska, according to Alaska Department of Fish and Game Petersburg Assistant Shellfish Biologist Kellii Wood.

Last year’s average price was $2.99, according to Petersburg Shellfish Biologist Joe Stratman.

Wood noted that 838,156 pounds were caught in the first seven days of the fishery by 169 permit holders.

“That is the fourth highest amount the fleet has caught in the first seven days since the 1983-84 season,” she said. “Last season, 1.1 million pounds were caught in the first seven days of the fishery by 150 permit holders, which was the highest amount the fleet had caught in the first seven days since the 1983-84 season.”

The season opened in Registration Area A (Southeastern Alaska) on June 15. In that first week, 193 permits were registered, compared to 151 that time of year in 2014, Stratman said.

As of Monday, 196 had registered, Wood added.

The 2014-15 season ended with 192 permit holders in comparison.

Stratman said the results of last year’s season may be a contributor to that extra effort.

The 2014-15 season was a good one as over 5 million pounds were harvested - above the 3.78 million pound 10-year average - with a total value of $15.1 million.

Wood said they’ve exceeded their 2.25 million pounds threshold and are predicting a 4.3 million pound summer/fall season.

There has been some concern regarding the largest toxic algae bloom the West Coast has seen in more than a decade, prompting the closure of some shellfish harvests in California, Oregon and Washington.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the bloom stretches from Central California into Washington and could possibly go as far north as Alaska.

NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service spokeswoman Julie Speegle said ADF&G, along with assistance from those such as Southeast Alaska Tribal Toxins, is monitoring the situation locally. 

“Overall, I would say that the season looks pretty good so far,” Wood said. “Hopefully, it continues along this path for the rest of the season.”

This season will be a normal one, ending on Aug. 15. Wood added that the fall fishery for most of the area will be held from Oct. 1 until Nov. 30.

Registration Area D (Yakutat) will remain closed for the 2015-16 season as it continues to recover. It’s been closed since 2000 after being designated as collapsed and recovering by the Alaska Board of Fisheries.