Commercial Dungeness crab fishing to open up on more of North Coast

More of the Sonoma Coast and the first section of the Mendocino Coast will open to commercial Dungeness crab fishing this week and next after recent tests by state health officials indicated crab in the area are now safe to consume.

Fish and wildlife officials said the commercial crab season will open Saturday from near Salt Point to the Mendocino County line. On Dec. 26, the season will open from the Mendocino County line to near Point Arena. The same day, in Humboldt County, the fishery will open from near Shelter Cove to the north jetty of the entrance to Humboldt Bay.

Commercial fishing will remain closed between Point Arena and Shelter Cove, until tests on crabs there show no more significant public health risk from domoic acid, a naturally occurring neurotoxin that can be harmful to consumers if ingested.

The commercial fishery has been expanded since its initial opening to now include all of the Sonoma Coast by the end of this week. The recreational season kicked off Nov. 5 and remains open with a warning from health officials against consuming the guts, or viscera, of crab caught between Point Arena and Shelter Cove.