Summer commercial Dungeness crabbing was well below average in Lynn Canal, with fishermen hauling in an estimated 105,000 pounds this year compared to the 250,000 pound 10-year average.
The Dungeness season closed two weeks early this summer due to poor returns. It was the third time in 20 years that Alaska Department of Fish and Game shellfish managers closed the season early.
Lynn Canal crabbers had a banner summer season last year, harvesting more than double the 10-year average with a record high price. Ten permit holders caught nearly 264,000 pounds.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game uses landings from the first week of the fishery to calculate the full season harvest estimate. Districtwide catches across Southeast were down as well. Fishermen caught 433,000 pounds during the first week compared to 894,000 10-year average. That data extrapolates to 1.28 million pounds for the 2021 summer season compared to 2.9 million 10-year average.
The total value of this summer’s Dungeness season was $3.7 million at a price of $2.96 per pounds. Last year, the fishery was worth $13 million at a price of $4.20 per pound. The previous 10-year average is $8.3 million with an average price of $2.91.
The price decrease reflected an excess of last summer’s crab still on the market due to high prices, according to local processor Harry Rietze.
Last year, ten Lynn Canal crabbers earned $1.1 million from the fishery. An average of nine crabbers fish area waters.
The fall season opens Oct. 1. Most of the region will close Nov. 30.