Dungeness Crab – Oregon Conservation Strategy

Overview

Species Common Name Dungeness Crab
Species Scientific Name Metacarcinus magister

Ecoregions

Nearshore

The Nearshore ecoregion includes a variety of habitats ranging from submerged high-relief rocky reefs to broad expanses of intertidal mudflats in estuaries and hosts a vast array of fish, invertebrates, marine mammals, birds, plants, and micro-organisms. This ecoregion encompasses the area from the outer boundary of Oregon’s Territorial Sea to the supra-tidal zone, and up into the estuaries.

Special needs

Dungeness crabs occur in subtidal habitat with sandy substrate.

Limiting factors

Larval supplies and episodic recruitment affect abundance and distribution. Availability of mates may be limiting.

Data gaps

Gather information on recruitment events. Obtain mortality estimates for juveniles/sub-adults/females caught but not retained by the commercial and sport fisheries.

Conservation actions

Monitor status of populations at index sites. Gather information to fill data gaps. Manage for sustainable harvest.