Dungeness crab grabs sustainability certification

Oregon's Dungeness crab fishery has landed the prestigious Marine Stewardship Council's sustainability stamp of approval, just in time for the boats to start pulling in the crustaceans for the 2010-11 season, reports www.megafishnet.com with reference to Sustainable Business Oregon.

The coveted certification allows products made with the crab to use the blue MSC logo signaling to consumers that the crabs were harvested in a manner that is easy on the marine environment.

The Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission, which has licensed about 425 boats fishing primarily within 10 miles of the Oregon coast, received the certificaiton.

The Oregon Dungeness crab fishery is one of only three crab fisheries in the world to receive MSC certification, and the only West Coast Dungeness fishery to be certified.

Oregon is the top producer of Dungeness crab worldwide, harvesting 23 million pounds during the 2009-10 season worth $44.8 million. After a delay, the crab season, which generally runs from December to August, opened earlier this week when fishers and processers agreed on an opening price of $1.65 per pound.