The Bay Craving Local Dungeness Crab? You’ll Need to Get It Yourself
Nov 26, 2025
Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman, a KQED reporter, dives into the impact of the ongoing delays in the Dungeness crab season, affecting local families' holiday traditions. She shares the plight of local fishermen and the cultural importance of fresh crab at Thanksgiving. Azul explains the new regulations due to whale entanglements and reveals how climate change is threatening the future of crabbing. For those eager for fresh crab, she discusses recreational fishing options and the higher prices of store-bought alternatives.
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Family Thanksgiving Crab Tradition
- Vicky Francisco hosts 18 family members for Thanksgiving and says fresh Dungeness crab is essential to the meal.
- She describes steaming simply and eating Kamayan-style with garlic butter and vinegar dipping sauces.
Derby-Style Local Crab Fleet
- San Francisco's commercial Dungeness fishery is a derby-style, small owner-operator fleet that fishes intensely when the season opens.
- Boats drop traps connected to buoys, pull them in when full, then return repeatedly to maximize catch.
Whale Entanglement Rules Delay Seasons
- A spike in whale entanglements in 2015–16 prompted legal action and a 2019 settlement requiring pre-season whale surveys.
- If whales are concentrated offshore, California delays the commercial crab season to reduce entanglement risk.