Crabbing fleets are out to sea

Not setting gear as early as they could, on Jan. 2, was a decision made to achieve “a fair price for vessels in all ports, a fair and organized start, and a united fleet from Bodega Bay to Monterey,” a press release from the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations said.

Although the fleets headed out to work Friday morning without knowing what they will be getting paid, fishers were eager to get out on the ocean and earn what they can. 

“They’re out there setting gear today and there’s no issues as far as weather,” Tim Obert, a fisher and PCFFA board member, said. “We’re looking forward to a good week of fishing.” 

Obert’s boats will be pulling their gear Saturday and seeing what’s in the pot, hoping for a decent supply and prices that feel appropriate. He and other crabbers, like Barry Day, are hoping to sell locally caught crab as early as Sunday.

Crabbing traditionally began in November but concerns over line entanglements placing humpback whales at risk have pushed the season out, and a reduction in the number of traps are still enforced.  

A lot of economic factors go into the price point of crab, including when the season begins. 

Since delays mean crabbing doesn’t open up until after the holidays, demand is not nearly as high as it would be in November and December, Harbormaster Chris Tibbe at Pillar Point Harbor said. 

“Fishers need to cover their overhead and have some sort of profitability, but also the same thoughts go for fish buyers as well,” Tibbe said. “Both sides want to do the best they can for their business.” 

The dynamic between fishers and buyers this year is particularly strained, it appears. 

Proposed prices for crab were 30% lower than last year. Last season’s opening week crab was going for about $5 a pound, but Obert said that it was likely an anomaly. Proposed purchase prices this year are “more consistent” with what they were in years past, but it’s still a loss as operational costs continue to rise, he said. 

Buyers are hesitant to set prices in advance of the first catch due to a pending federal class action lawsuit that alleges price-fixing against Pacific Seafood and other crab buyers, fishers said. 

It won’t be until crabbers see what they’ve pulled on Saturday that they’ll determine an appropriate cost. 

Additionally, some areas along the West Coast aren’t able to crab until Jan. 15, which is also having an impact on what buyers are seeking in terms of price despite the fact that “volume isn’t great right now,” Obert said. Since there may be more product soon, prices may drop and buyers will do what they can to get the best deal, including “starving out” fishers now, he said. 

With costs of operations only continuing to rise for fishers, legal action presenting concerns for buyers — and both parties looking to make a living — the price of crab remains to be seen. But at least it’s locally sourced.