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After four month delay, commercial Dungeness crab season set to open

California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Commercial Dungeness crab season finally set to open along California coast.

The commercial Dungeness crab fishery along the California coast is finally set to open for the year, next Saturday, March 26.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced late Friday afternoon that the season—which has been on hold since November—can open thanks to new test results.

The state says domoic acid levels no longer pose a significant human health risk. The Pacific Ocean along the California coast saw unusually high acid levels this past fall and winter, forcing the call to shut down the fishery.

Domoic acid is a potentially fatal neurotoxin that can accumulate in shellfish and other seafood. At low levels, it can cause nausea, diarrhea and dizziness in humans. At higher levels, it can cause short-term memory loss, seizures and even death.

Crab fishermen have been hard hit financially by the four-month long closure. The industry pulls in up to $90 million dollars a year, according the CDFW.

“This has been a very difficult season for hardworking Californians who have suffered significant financial hardship due to this natural disaster,” said Fish and Wildlife Director Charlton H. Bonham in a press statement.

The season is scheduled to end on June 30, although the state's wildlife director does have the authority to extend the commercial season.

In February, Governor Brown asked the federal government to issue a disaster declaration which could open up funds for those affected. In the meantime, the federal Small Business Administration—acting independently—stepped in to offer assistance in the form of disaster loans.