Dungeness Crab Dungeness Crab SNOHOMISH COUNTY MARINE FACT SHEET SNOHOMISH COUNTY MARINE FACT SHEET Dungeness crabs (Cancer magister) have Life cycle and growth Dungeness crabs (Cancer magister) have Life cycle and growth a shell with a purple-orange hue, grayish Mating occurs between hard-shelled a shell with a purple-orange hue, grayish Mating occurs between hard-shelled -brown on the back, and white tipped males, and newly molted soft-shelled -brown on the back, and white tipped males, and newly molted soft-shelled claws. Just like lobsters and shrimp, females. The female carries the fertilized claws. Just like lobsters and shrimp, females. The female carries the fertilized crabs are crustaceans, having an exteri- eggs, as many as 2 ½ million, under her crabs are crustaceans, having an exteri- eggs, as many as 2 ½ million, under her or skeleton or shell called a carapace. or skeleton or shell called a carapace. abdomen until they hatch. abdomen until they hatch. Dungeness crabs are found from Alaska Dungeness crabs are found from Alaska to Mexico. They are most abundant in to Mexico. They are most abundant in Did you know? Did you know? several areas of Puget Sound including several areas of Puget Sound including the Northwest Straits, Hood Canal, and Dungeness crab have several pairs of the Northwest Straits, Hood Canal, and Dungeness crab have several pairs of along the outer coast. The Dungeness appendages, which they can regener- along the outer coast. The Dungeness appendages, which they can regener- crab is named after one of their repre- ate if lost! crab is named after one of their repre- ate if lost! sentative habitats—Dungeness Spit, sentative habitats—Dungeness Spit, found on the Olympic Peninsula in As juvenile crabs grow to adulthood, found on the Olympic Peninsula in As juvenile crabs grow to adulthood, Washington. they shed their hard shell. This process is Washington. they shed their hard shell. This process is called molting and allows them to in- called molting and allows them to in- Habitat crease in size incrementally. They reach Habitat crease in size incrementally. They reach Dungeness crab breed in nearshore are- harvest size between 4-5 years of age. It Dungeness crab breed in nearshore are- harvest size between 4-5 years of age. It as and females may move to deeper is important that crabs survive long as and females may move to deeper is important that crabs survive long water to hatch eggs. Threats to crab enough to become sexually mature, water to hatch eggs. Threats to crab enough to become sexually mature, which occurs between 2-3 years. Dunge- which occurs between 2-3 years. Dunge- habitat include modifications to the habitat include modifications to the ness crab can live 8-13 years, and grow ness crab can live 8-13 years, and grow shoreline from development shoreline from development greater than 10 inches in size. greater than 10 inches in size. (bulkheads), disruption of eelgrass beds, (bulkheads), disruption of eelgrass beds, and pollution. and pollution. Dungeness Crab Dungeness Crab Predators Predators Natural predators of Dungeness crab in- Natural predators of Dungeness crab in- clude other crab species, halibut, dogfish, clude other crab species, halibut, dogfish, sculpins, octopus, and sea otters. Salmon sculpins, octopus, and sea otters. Salmon feed on crab larvae when they are available. feed on crab larvae when they are available. Harvest Harvest Dungeness crab is an important Dungeness crab is an important commercial, recreational, and tribal commercial, recreational, and tribal fishery. In Puget Sound, harvest has in- fishery. In Puget Sound, harvest has in- creased steadily, more than doubling from creased steadily, more than doubling from 1996 to 2003. 1996 to 2003. Local protection efforts Local protection efforts The Snohomish County Marine Resources Committee (MRC) works to protect Dunge- The Snohomish County Marine Resources Committee (MRC) works to protect Dunge- ness crab and its habitat. The MRC is active in educating recreational crabbers to en- ness crab and its habitat. The MRC is active in educating recreational crabbers to en- sure fisherman have the ability to identify their catch, promote use of rot cord, and to sure fisherman have the ability to identify their catch, promote use of rot cord, and to prevent the loss of crab pots in the Puget Sound. The MRC also works to remove dere- prevent the loss of crab pots in the Puget Sound. The MRC also works to remove dere- lict crab pots every year. Furthermore, the MRC is committed to protecting nearshore lict crab pots every year. Furthermore, the MRC is committed to protecting nearshore habitat, which is crucial for crab survival. habitat, which is crucial for crab survival. Resources Resources WDFW: wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/crab/ WDFW: wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/crab/ Snohomish MRC: www.snocomrc.org/ Snohomish MRC: www.snocomrc.org/ How you can get involved How you can get involved Be smart! Crab legally: Crabbers are only allowed to harvest hardshell male crabs that Be smart! Crab legally: Crabbers are only allowed to harvest hardshell male crabs that are 6 ¼ inches wide or larger. are 6 ¼ inches wide or larger. The MRC: The Snohomish MRC is a citizen-based volunteer committee appointed by The MRC: The Snohomish MRC is a citizen-based volunteer committee appointed by the Snohomish County Council. It is one of seven county-based MRC's, which conduct the Snohomish County Council. It is one of seven county-based MRC's, which conduct restoration, conservation, and education projects with diverse partners and communi- restoration, conservation, and education projects with diverse partners and communi- ty members to meet performance benchmarks. ty members to meet performance benchmarks. .