Action:  Marine Area 8-1 and Marine Area 8-2 will open on October 10 for winter recreational crabbing.  Crabbing will be allowed seven days a week through December 31.

Effective date:  October 10 

Species affected:  Dungeness, red rock, and Tanner crab.

Location:  Marine Area 8-1 and Marine Area 8-2.

Reason for action:    Preliminary summer harvest estimates indicate that these two areas can open to recreational harvest on the dates indicated.  

Additional information: Marine areas 4 (Neah Bay, east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line), 5 (Sekiu), 6 (eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca), 7 (San Juan Islands), 9 (Admiralty Inlet), and a portion of 12 (Hood Canal, the portion North of Ayock Point) were opened for recreational crab fishing on October 1. The daily limits in all Marine Areas will be five crabs per day for Dungeness crabs, six crabs per day for Red Rock crabs, and six crabs per day for Tanner crabs.  All Dungeness crabs retained during this time must be recorded on a winter catch record card.

Information contact: Don Velasquez, Mill Creek Regional Office, (425) 775-1311 ext. 112.