Oregon's commercial crab season will not open as scheduled Dec. 1, state officials announced Friday.
Crab tests have shown elevated levels of a toxin that can be harmful — or even fatal — to consumers.
Kelly Corbett with Oregon Fish and Wildlife says domoic acid was discovered in the southern ports of Brookings, Coos Bay and Port Orford.
But she says the crab season is being delayed for the whole coast.
"This delay will allow completion of additional tests, with close coordination with the Oregon Department of Agriculture, to help us provide confidence that crab harvested from Oregon waters are all safe to consume," Corbett said.
Oregon's North Coast is open to recreational crabbing — but much of the central and southern coast is closed, while state officials continue testing.
The discovery of the same toxin closed commercial and recreational crabbing in California, earlier this fall. Washington also delayed its crab season for the central coast.
Copyright 2015 Oregon Public Broadcasting
