It is likely that the Bay Area will have to go without fresh Dungeness crab for another major holiday.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports local crabbing fleets are still negotiating with wholesalers for higher prices and the issue is not expected to resolved until after the new year. Pacific Seafood - one of the largest buyers of wholesale crab on the West Coast - is now offering $2.25 a pound, an increase from the initial offer of $1.85.
But crabbers want a price closer to $3.30 to offset their costs and make it worth their time on the water.
The start of the commercial crabbing season was originally pushed past Thanksgiving because of the risk that crab pots would entangle migrating whales. The migration has now passed the Bay Area and crabbers were cleared to start the season on December 23, but the price issue has kept crab boats docked.
Seafood wholesalers said they have seen a big drop in demand and sales this year because of the pandemic’s influence on restaurants.
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