Crab season extended to Sonoma Coast

Commercial crab fishing will be extended to much of the Sonoma County coast beginning Saturday, following tests showing the succulent shellfish are again safe to eat.

The commercial Dungeness crab season opened last month, but only south of Point Reyes.

Health officials delayed the opening because of concerns about a high level of neurotoxin in crab related to toxic red algae blooms.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Thursday the fishery would be extended 50 miles north from Point Reyes to Salt Point, south of The Sea Ranch.

The fishery will remain closed between Salt Point and the entrance to Humboldt Bay.

State health officials allowed the extension after determining that crab from the area “no longer poses a significant threat for domoic acid exposure.”

The neurotoxin is believed to build up in the tissues of crab that feed on recent unusually large and persistent blooms of ?Pseudo-nitzschia, a common summertime ocean inhabitant, that lingered amid warm ocean conditions. The extension of the commercial fishery means boats will be able to begin dropping pots at 6 a.m. this morning for an 18-hour “pre-soak” period. Then at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, fisherman will be allowed to begin hauling up their valuable catch.

The recreational season for Dungeness crab opened Nov. 5 with a warning that anglers should avoid consuming the internal organs of crab caught on the North Coast. The season runs until June 30.

Last year’s season suffered a painful 4½-month delay because of similar concerns.

You can reach Staff Writer Kevin McCallum at 707-521-5207 or kevin.mccallum@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @srcitybeat.