Supplies of Dungeness crab in the US market are likely to be tight for a second season running, the seafood importer and wholesaler Tradex Foods advises in its latest 3-Minute Market Insight, posted Monday (Jan. 6).
Global landings were at a recent record high in 2023 in the US fisheries in Alaska, Washington, Oregon and California with about 108 million pounds and relatively low prices between $2.00 and $3.00 per pound, noted the British Columbia, Canada-based company.
Catch data is still being finalized in Alaska and British Columbia for 2024 but preliminary figures suggested that total landings will be between 75m to 80m with prices higher between $3.00 and $4.00/lb.
As Undercurrent News reported, only part of Oregon's Dungeness crab fishery was open in time for the Christmas holiday rush with concerns about marine mammal entanglements and poor meat production in some northern areas postponing the harvest openings across the Pacific coastline.
Tradex reported hearing from Troy Buell of the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, who noted that the season has started slowly due to stormy weather, limiting fishing days, and that so far, over 4.2 million lbs have been landed with an average dock price of $5.00/lb.
California's fishery has just opened though Washington's season remains delayed until at least Jan. 15.
In Alaska, the fall season ended in November and will reopen in May, while BC's year-round fishery sees slower landings in fall and winter compared to summer, Tradex noted.
"Our recommendation is to secure your pre-commitments for Dungeness crab now, as the supply outlook suggests a repeat of last year, potentially with even less Dungeness available," the company said.
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