History and status of the Oregon Dungeness crab fishery

Oregon fishery for Dungeness crab has a long history. Catch records have been kept for this fishery since 1889. The management strategy for Dungeness crab is derived from these records and from our knowledge of crab biology. Management of a single species fishery such as this should be a simple matter compared to a multispecies fishery, especially with the biologically conservative regulations that currently exist. Nevertheless, the Dungeness crab fishery has changed from a simple fishery to one with complex issues. Over the past 30 years the fishery has been in transition In recent years fishery issues have gone beyond biology and state boundaries, and are primarily social and economic in nature. This report summarizes the history and the changes that have occurred in the Dungeness crab fishery in Oregon. (Introduction)