Wildlife Fact Sheet

Dungeness Crab

Metacarcinus magister

Lifespan | More than 10 years
Habitat | Sandy or muddy parts of the ocean floor, especially around eelgrass beds
Range | From Alaska’s Aleutian Islands to Mexico, but mostly in the Pacific Northwest
Preferred Food | Crustaceans, bivalves, worms and even fish

About

Dungeness crabs are one of the most popular seafood items in the Pacific Northwest (just call them the Kings in the North!). You can identify Dungeness crabs by their purple-hued shells, which can grow up to 10 inches across.

Dungeness crabs make up a massive fishery that supports communities from California to Alaska—some years the harvest results in up to 54 million pounds of crab! In 2016, the fishery was hit hard by a toxic bloom of Pseudo-nitschia algae, which delayed the Oregon and Washington fishery opening by one month and the Washington fishery by five months. When crabs and other shellfish eat these algae, it causes a buildup of a toxin called domoic acid in their bodies. Although it doesn’t hurt the crab, it can make humans and other marine life very sick.

Did You Know?

Unlike other types of seafood, 99% of the Dungeness crab we buy in the United States is actually from the United States.

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Fast Facts

  • Dungeness Crab
  • Dungeness Crab