NORTH COAST, Calif. – On Friday, the director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced an emergency action to delay the opener of the commercial Dungeness crab season due to unsafe levels of domoic acid.

This action followed Thursday's vote to delay the opener of the recreational Dungeness crab season as well.

“The North Coast is crab country and while we are all eager to enjoy Dungeness crab over the holidays, we have to be focused on the public’s health, first,” said state Sen. Mike McGuire, chair of the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture who also represents the North Coast. “We’re working to ensure a safe opening to the season and will be monitoring ocean conditions with the resource agencies and the Department of Public Health.”

The closure will remain in effect until the director of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, in consultation with the director of the California Department of Public Health, determines that domoic acid levels no longer pose a significant risk to public health and no longer recommends the fisheries be closed.

The commercial Dungeness crab season was scheduled to open Nov. 15, and the recreational season was originally set to open this Saturday.

There is not currently a date set for re-opening of the season – it is up to Mother Nature to provide the conditions that will allow the crabs to purge the unhealthy levels of domoic acid.

“Our No. 1 priority is public safety,” said McGuire. “We’re working with state officials to advance the opening of the season, but continued tests must take place to ensure the safety of consumers.”

The Dungeness crab fishery is in the top tier of California’s commercial fisheries. Values have exceeded $95 million per year and long-term averages of nearly $60 million.

For more information on the health advisories and the commission’s decision to delay the recreational Dungeness crab season, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing .