August 15, 2023
Action: The previously announced recreational crab opening in Marine Area 7 North is delayed and will not begin on August 17. The area will remain closed until further notice.
Effective date: Immediately, until further notice.
Species affected: Dungeness crab, red rock crab, tanner crab.
Location: Marine Area 7 North (Those waters of Marine Area 7 north and east of a line projected from Village Point, Lummi Island through the navigation buoy just east of Matia Island thence to the buoy at Clements Reef thence to the easternmost point of Patos Island, running along the northern shoreline of Patos Island and from the westernmost point of Patos Island true west to the international boundary and north of a line that extends from Point Francis on Portage Island, through the marker just north of Inati Bay on Lummi Island to Lummi Island)
Reason for action: State and Tribal co-managers have agreed to delay their fishery openings to provide additional time for more of the legal size male crab to reach hard shell condition.
Additional information: The opening will be rescheduled to allow for the percentage of hardshell crabs among the legal-size males to increase above current levels.
Once open, the daily limit in all open Marine Areas is five crabs per day for Dungeness crabs, six crabs per day for Red Rock crabs, and six crabs per day for Tanner crabs. All Dungeness crabs retained through Labor Day must be recorded on a summer catch record card. Crabs that are retained after Labor Day must be recorded on a winter catch record card.
Information contact: Aaron Dufault, Puget Sound Shellfish Manager, (360) 902-2791. Katelyn Bosley, Puget Sound Crustacean Lead (360) 302-6053.