Northwest Treaty Tribes: Working together to research Dungeness crab

DUNGENESS CRAB STUDIED REGIONWIDE

By D. Preston for Northwest Treaty Tribes

Crab always have been a part of tribal members’ diet and culture and also are an important part of tribal economy in Washington state, since salmon fishing is limited by habitat destruction from over-development and decades of overfishing. The Dungeness crab fishery is important to tribal and non-tribal commercial fishermen, contributing the largest value of catch in the state, estimated at $12.5 million total in 2017-2018.

In recognition of the need to improve Dungeness crab science and management, Swinomish and Lummi launched a cooperative research effort among tribal, state, federal and academic researchers. The newly formed Pacific Northwest Crab Research Group (PNWCRG) aims to promote sustainable Dungeness crab populations. Since the group’s inception in December 2018, it has grown to include more than 60 individuals, primarily representing tribal governments.

Read the rest of the article found in the Summer 2019 magazine by Northwest Treaty Tribes here: https://nwtreatytribes.org/publications/magazine/