The harvest quota for crab in Hood Canal is based on the relationship between three factors:
1) the spring test fishery conducted in late May,
2) the total tribal harvest, and
3) the previous five years of total tribal harvest.
Because the quota setting depends somewhat on tribal harvest, it is important for tribes to harvest crab when it is available. Unfortunately, the Hood Canal tribes could not agree on a structure for fishing the remaining ~10,500 lbs. at the end of this year and left it all for ceremonial and subsistence.
At this time, we encourage PGST members to take advantage of the increased subsistence pot (5) and catch limit (20 crab a day) to fill their freezers (and their neighbors!) until the end of this season. The only way we know if the crab is caught is if it is recorded; please write your daily catch on a subsistence card and return it to Natural Resources after the Hood Canal Season closes on February 28th. Subsistence pot tags and cards are available for pick up from the Natural Resources office.