Coast commercial crab season opening set

NEWPORT, Ore. (AP) — Oregon officials plan to open the commercial crab season on December 18 for a portion of the coast that runs from Cape Blanco to the Oregon-California border.

Officials say tests have shown low biotoxin results on the southern end of the state.

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife and Department of Agriculture said the recreational bay and ocean crab fishery from Tillamook Head south to Cape Lookout opens on Saturday.

All recreational harvest from Tillamook Head north to, and including, the Columbia River remains open.

Dungeness crabbing from Cape Lookout to Cape Blanco remains closed due to elevated levels of domoic acid.

Other areas along the central section of the Oregon coast remain closed to crabbing due to concerns about domoic acid levels.