The only commercial crab harvesting in those areas has been tribal and according to information provided at the most recent meeting of the P.S. Recreational Crab and Shrimp Advisory Committee the tribes are on board with this very belated action. The serious underlying concern is the lack of recruitment particularly in MA 13 and the need to protect the remaining reproductive aged crab in MA 11 with the goal being to ensure spawn (larvae) is available to flush through the Narrows.

Note that the News Release started out by announcing no crabbing in MA 11 and MA 13 yet the body of the release was limited to Dungeness crab. That could be confusing to some. At the Committee meeting the group leaned toward a complete crabbing closure to include red rock crab. I believe that is what has occurred; a complete crabbing closure in those two MAs. It would be nice if they would confirm a complete (Dungeness and red rock) closure.