Marine areas 11 and 13 will not open for crabbing

https://wdfw.wa.gov/news/may1018a/

Wow, why did I buy the PS crab endorsement last March?

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.

It has been very poor crabbing in these areas the past two years. Makes the decision for me so I don't have to feel obligated to crab over the usual 4th of July opener only to get nothing to speak of. Salmon fishing Baby!

Larry:

Is there any chance that WDFW may later modify the rule change to allow harvest of red rock crabs in MA 13? It would be nice to be able to harvest them — had some really good days last summer for the red rocks.

I’ve been harvesting red rocks, in the same place, since I was a child. I have never encountered a Dungeness while crabbing there. This is a serious bummer, hanging on the dock while soaking pots with friends and family has always been a big part of summer.

They should close the southern end of the canal as well.
I haven’t seen a legal Dungeness crab in the eel grass flats for a number of years now.
SF

I agree. I moved my effort when MA 12 was going downhill. Dead crab dumped at the bottom of the Skokomish ramp @ the Coleman Powerhouse. Before it was even open for sport fishers?

Keep in mind that I was an observer so had no official status. The discussion pertaining to red rock acknowledged that it is a legitimate activity but there was serious concern about being able to ensure that only red rock would be targeted. There was no concern about the actual health of the red rock population and, in fact, there was conjecture as to whether an increasing red rock population could constrain Dungeness recovery.

I will offer that I am fairly sure that there is limited data available on the actual number of recreational crabbers targeting red rock. You might want to express your thoughts to Mr. Sizemore or the Commission.

These fuktards took my license money again, this time without any hesitation for crab I wont be able to fish for. Now I can’t crab in the primary marine areas I bought the license for. And red rocks are apparently swept up in this as a nusiance issue. WTF? Can I get my money back? Not. Probably get fuked for not returning a catch record card I couldn’t even use. Last time I buy any license without intent to fish at the time of purchase. Dick knobs.

Be interesting to see if they push the issue to be designated a disaster, and quickly apply for federal disaster relief money for losing income...

The tribes that crab in MA 11 and 13 (believe there are 3, but Larry may correct me) should be recognized for doing the right thing in this case. I believe they both worked cooperatively with WDFW in analyzing test fisheries, and agreed to a solution that makes sense to get populations back on track in those marine areas. I don't personally care whether they apply for federal compensation--not sure there's much of a loss to show when stocks are low.

Acknowledging when tribes act responsibly is important so that we can address tribal activity (salmon/steelhead) on the coast that is highly irresponsible, and potentially criminal. Need a governor, or US Attorney, with the guts to call b.s. on inappropriate/illegal tribal overfishing and waste in and around Forks. It's not agreed or settled that tribes can violate the ESA or similar federal laws.

There are at least three tribes involved with U&A rights in those areas. And while it is always a good thing to recognize appropriate conservation actions it is unfortunate that co-managers didn't agree to this several years ago when the trend line was apparent particularly in MA 13.

This closure sure ruins some of my family summer recreation. I'm really saddened that the crab are so depleted that the season had to be closed entirely. WDFW should have seen this coming two years ago, but, of course, didn't act. I wonder what the catch division between the sports and the tribes was the last two years? Where would I find that data?

It was my understanding that there were not agreements with all the Tribes fishing in 11/13 in recent years.

Tug, this steep downward trend has been on WDFW's radar for quite awhile and apparently WDFW shellfish folks have been trying for three or four years to get the tribes to agree to a cessation to no avail until now.

Here is a link to the most recent annual crab report to the Commission which includes some new slides showing recruitment data:

https://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/meetings/2018/04/apr_1218_25_presentation.pdf.

Note that in Region 7 they don't even show any recreational harvest on the bar graph and last year's report had a barely visible harvest. (https://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/meetings/2017/08/aug0417_18_presentation.pdf)

As a concerned crabber I sent in a number of recommendations early this year to include one that was specific to your question. I suggested that there needs to be a slide for each management area over time showing the agreed to harvest numbers and resulting respective harvest numbers for State and Tribes. Why?

First, it is important for us to have visibility of any disparity in the 50/50 split. Secondly, if one looks at the aggregate harvest numbers over time one would think all is well with this resource. But we all know better. I will add that there is something inherently wrong when the data used to negotiate a particular areas total harvestable poundage is provided by the group which fishes first.

The rapid demise of the resource in South Sound is hidden by the positive numbers from 2E, 2W and particularly Area 1 (San Juans) where there were at least two increases in harvest negotiated with the tribes in 2017 due to abundance.

We will see if Mr. Sizemore is willing to incorporate that particular recommendation for his report after the 2018 season.

True at least for MA 13 (AKA crab area 7). Apparently for two years the Nisqually tribe grossly exceeded its share (3x and then 2x) and then apparently decided it was easier to just not agree to a number at all.

Another habitat issue for sure. The habitat from MA13 to PNP has had pots every 50' for years' during the tribal season, whenever that is. Another stellar example of co-management at it's finest.

You can guarantee come June MA 9, 10, 8-1 and 8-2 will get carpet bombed with pots.
2016 was the last year I saw many crabs hooked up mating.
So far this spring I’ve, I’ve only seen three sets so far.
I’d expect crabbing similar to last year results, which in my case was horrible.
SF

If you have an onset of conditions adverse to successful spawns (meaning fewer or no recruitment) and continue to harvest the existing legal (spawning size) crab ultimately you have insufficient males. Couple that with females aging out of the reproductive group and ultimately you see a fast drop off in population.

In short, the 3-S management strategy (size, sex and season) has its limitations and that assumes that everyone is playing by the rules.

The history of natural resource mis-management is full of stories where things looked great one year and then fell flat. The last Pyramid Lake Cutthroat run was made up of spawners over 10 pounds. Real nice fish. Next year nothing.

Suspect what we are seeing is the first dramatic effects of the acidification of oceans. Recent studies have shown that the most dramatic changes in Washington coast waters have occurred in southern Hood Canal. Most studies also mention that the list of the animals most likely to impacted include Dungeness crabs.


We are seeing the results of poisoning our environment with recent policy changes all but guaranteeing that things will get worst and not better. Remember one study that predicted that by 2040 the numbers of Dungeness crab in Puget Sound will be less than 25% of what we have seen in recent years.

Curt

Interesting (and alarming) but I wonder what the difference is between Dungeness (struggling) and red rock (apparently flourishing)?

Are we simply accelerating the process through the heavy harvest of Dungeness?

There are lots of reasons why one species may not react the same as another. Coho get hammered by road runoff in urban/suburban areas while chum there at the same time are not bothered.

But, the heavy harvest of Dungeness certainly accelerates any problems caused by the environment.

Puget Sound acidification has been a topic in several NOAA and other studies with various reports are available.

In addition to impacts on Dungeness crabs and oysters (all ready see as much as a 25% decline) other critters such as pteropods being affected.Pteropods are a small floating snail that is a major component of the marine food web for various species including salmon.

It appears that west coast of north America and especially Puget Sound will be a region where the impacts from acidification will hit early.

Curt

I should be recognized for doing the right thing too. . .I stopped crabbing 2-3 years ago when it got too lame for the effort and resource I put in. I think the expense and income lines probably just intersected on the Nisqually tribe's P & L report, and they got all naturalistically conservationalized and such.

fb

I have a hard time believing this is based off climate. If it was, I would first wonder why warmer areas, such as California and Oregon have seasons that are so much more liberal and an apparent higher abundance of crab. To the North, the Vancouver area has a smaller limit, but is left open all year in their in land waters, again pointing to higher numbers. If there is an environmental component, I would lean to the something being washed in to the water, as both the far south Puget Sound and far end of Hood Canal could have problems with this. The theory is that you can never over harvest the crabs as long as the females and undersized males are left alone. In fact, that is why Oregon allows the size of males down to 5 3/4 inches, as they argue that there should always be a large enough population of breeding male crabs under this size to not effect the population. So far, they seem to be correct as they seem to have adequate numbers to justify the larger bag limits.

Are there any studies showing that there is a significant water quality difference in South Puget Sound as compared to other areas, not just in Washington but in Califorina, Oregon and Vancouver?

Great questions. Science suggests that the influence of ocean acidification will likely impact northern puget sound long before it reaches the southern extent. So before people blame habitat and climate based habitat change, lets see some data to support that conclusion. It is pretty obvious that aggressive harvest coupled with natural fluctuations in crab population recruitment can explain 100% of why we have no crab left to target.

Lets see tribal and non-tribal harvest data for the past several years along with whatever recruitment information is available specifically for these southern crab management areas. Seems to be pretty well-accepted that the tribal fisheries have been very aggressive and incompletely reported. Is that true? I would like to see responsible co- management of this fishery so that everyone gets to participate.

For those might be interested in recent understanding of acidification within Puget Sound almost any search of Acidification of Puget Sound will produce information.

Curt

The speculation by the bios was heavily toward temperature impacts on the larval stage. Note the use of the word speculation.

Krijack - I have wondered for years about how WDFW and ODFW have resolved the issue of minimum size in concurrent management waters of the lower CR. WDFW's position is that the 6 1/4 minimum allows one to two spawning opportunities for sexually mature male Dungeness crab before they become legal to harvest in Puget Sound. The 5 3/4 minimum would seem to barely allow a male crab one opportunity - if that.

Then there is the issue of exactly how much meat one gets from a 5 3/4 inch crab versus 6 1/2. There was actually an idea floated around several years ago by former shellfish manager Childers to increase the minimum in P.S. to 7 inches. Obviously that didn't go anywhere.

To think this is based on anything other than over harvest is ridiculous.

Crabbing in Puget Sound got mega popular a few years back because of the size of the crab. Washingtonians and the sovereign nationals both over fished the hell out of them.
An endless sea of pots.

Q- Who is managing our resources?????
A- No one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WDFW's management model is reactionary.
There is zero prevention until it's too late.

Once again our state sets the ignorance bar.

Does this mean we MIGHT have overharvested salmon, too? Nah. That was all habitat destruction....

In other words, I agree. It really is simple.

Along the same lines of how they were recently blaming the Lake Sammamish kokanee crash on global warming rather than rampant over-development.

WE are never, ever, responsible. It is always THEM.

WDFW might as well let a Ouija Board set future regulations.

Or maybe Evo

I agree aggressive harvest on a declining population is not what should occur. Models certainly over predict on a lesser resource.

see the following -

https://www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/files/wa_state_blue_ribbon_panel_oa_11-27-2012.pdf

See Chapter 2

This article as well as others that I have read mention that the water with the lowest ph (most acidic) has been found in Southern Hood Canal and that value has dropped significantly recently.

Curt

Succinct!

Total harvest (lbs), Crab area 2W (Pt Townsend to Kingston) (Numbers appx):

2007 194,000
2012 504,000
2015 821,600
2017 727,800

Total harvest (lbs). Crab area (Kingston to N. tip ofVashon):

2007 139,890
2012 365,700
2016 486,800
2017 312,000

Greed assures quotas will continue to increase, and commercial harvest assures Puget Sound will continue to feed the world. I wish that all catch would stay in-state, as a resource of the residents who live here. The pressure of the global economy is winning the war against our natural resources: Salmon, crab, geoduck, etc.

Why can't "they" put together a "win-win", like Chicken of the Sea "Stellar in Lite Olive Oil", or "Cormorant a L'orange". Wait, how about rebranding...they could call Chum something fancy, like "Keta".

Sorry, got off track...my thought is that the WA population will continue to skyrocket, while local and global demand will continue to exterminate our natural resources. The powers that be will continue to play Musical Chairs, hoping to get retirement, or the price per pound to max out, so they can get off the train without fault before it crashes.

As long as the demand remains high financially, over harvest will occur. Whether tribal or white commercial. When financial gain takes over, all natural resources suffer. I say ban all commercial sales of PS crab period. None for casinos, none for over seas markets. All take and seasons are for recreation, personal use, or tribal ceremonial.
You have to take the financial gain out of the equation. It's the only way to give the crab a fighting chance.

I emailed WDFW when this notice came out asking about a red rock season, but haven't gotten any response. Does anyone else have any updated information on a season for red rock crabs in 11 or 13?

Robert Sizemore has been the Shellfish Manager for about a year now and may be contacted at robert.sizemore@dfw.wa.gov.

Is that who you emailed?

Thanks for the email. I had emailed a couple other people, but I'll try Sizemore

Since I haven't made it a point of learning how to post documents or pictures (on purpose) here are the numbers (pounds?) for the 2017 season in MA 11 and MA 13:

AREA...........State/Tribal Shares........State Harvest.........Tribal Harvest

11...................17,366.......................17,321.................8,765
13....................4,868.........................4,480.................4,982

Keep in mind that this a one year snapshot and the real story is the degradation over the last 6 or so years. I have recommended in writing that the annual crab season report to the Commission include slides for each management area showing harvest numbers over multiple seasons so that trends can be observed and appropriate questions asked. As it is, the harvest numbers from MA 7 (San Juans and north) obscure the problems in South Sound.

Edit: For comparison here are the numbers off of the same report for MA 7:

7*................2,550,000.....................2,565,495.........2,525,896

*Data as of preparation of the report & anticipating minor upward adjustments. The preponderance of the State share in MA 7 is harvested commercially.

By the way, when will WDFW announce opening dates for the rest of PS?

At the Crab Advisory Group meeting referenced earlier in which the possible MA 11 & 13 closures (now a done deal) were discussed there was no discussion of any other alterations to the standard season set in the Management Plan. So I fully anticipate the standard 1 July opener except for the later openings in MA 7. By the way, that is different than assuming......

Now, if they would just update their webpage: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/crab/.

Was trying make plans for San Juans in MA7. The opener is usually on July 15 or 16th, depending what day that falls. July 15th is on a Sunday this year. The past season days have been Thursday-Sundays. Will the opener be 1 day, Sunday only, or will the whole weekend be available?

How about open Thursdays through Mondays during the summer season?

Would that mean the opener would be on Thursday, July 12 or Thursday, July 19?

My post was intended to correct your Thursday through Sunday weekly opening to include Monday (until the winter season when it goes to seven days a week).

And that only applies to when the summer season is open. So if 7W opens 15 August and that is a Sunday then it will be open Sunday and Monday then closed for Tuesday/Wednesday reopening on Thursday.

Last year's little debacle was when the 4th of July was on a Tuesday and some folks just kept on crabbing and were ticketed. Since then I made a recommendation that the 4th of July be open no matter what day of the week.....so far no response from the Shellfish Manager.

Was just told by a friend that the Tribal guys are launching pots all over area 10, I ran down to take a look & he was right. So the slim pickings that where left from last year, will be even slimmer... Anybody know how many pots they are allowed to fish ? How many days a week ? How long is there season ?

Once again we will be left scrapes. I expect Area 9 will be next.

Thank You!

Looking at the release, I never realized the tribe would still be conducting their subsistence fishery. While the numbers are tiny, it seems unfair that the only the rec side individuals suffer, while the tribal members only loose the commercial side, which can it can be argued is one of the main reasons we are not crabbing. Reference number: 3740612H-5


Squaxin Island Tribe Crab Regulation Regulation # 2018-01

The following regulation is promulgated by the Squaxin Island Tribe. This fishery shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the 20187-2019 Region 7 Dungeness Crab Harvest Management Plan between Treaty Tribes and the State of Washington.

DATE ADOPTED: June 4th, 2018

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 6th, 2018

CLOSING DATE: March 1st, 2019

CATCH AREA: Shellfish catch reporting areas 28B, 28C, 28D, and 28A.


FISHERY TYPE: Subsistence

SPECIES: Dungeness crab (Cancer magister) Red Rock Crab (Cancer productus)

ON/OFF RESERVATION: On/Off

LEGAL GEAR: Pots, rings and hand-operated instruments that do not penetrate the shell are the only legal gear.

POT LIMIT: Up to 5 pots per harvester

ESTIMATED HARVEST: up to 10 crab per day

ESTIMATED EFFORT: 2-4 harvesters

DAYS/HOURS: Open 7 days a week, from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset. It is unlawful to tend pots from a vessel at night.

CATCH REPORTING: Crabbers must have a subsistence crab permit in their possession while participating in this fishery. OTHER PROVISIONS:

All Crab catch must be recorded on a subsistence permit and turned in monthly or as specified on the permit. New permits will not be issued until all outstanding permits have been returned.

Minimum size for male Dungeness crab is 6.25 inches and for Red rock crab of either sex is 5 inches.

Looks like areas opening on the Sat. a day earlier than usual. Good for the WDFW. Hope crab are left for us since the tribes are already in!
https://wdfw.wa.gov/news/jun0818a/

Bullship that they couldn't figure out how to open it the 4th of July. Really going to screw with a long-standing tradition of fresh, beach-cooked crab watching fireworks from the beach chair.