Commercial Crabbing Delayed – Again; EMAC Committee Vacancies; Bag Ban Begins; Comedy Pet Performance; Toys for Tots

Commercial Crabbing Delayed – Again

The commercial crabbing season has been delayed once again on the Oregon Coast.  The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife had initially moved the start date to December 15th, but continual testing of the offshore crab has yielded crab that has not yet met ODFW standards for the amount of meat.  They found in testing through November and the first 10 days of December that half of the crab still has too low a meat yield.  This has prompted the agency to move the opening date to at least December 31st  a date that could change again if yields do not significantly increase.  Crab yields on the river have been better for recreational crabbing according to Bridgeport Market owner Jay Cable.  Cable says crab size has increased in recent weeks and have been plentiful.  Residential crabbing is currently open along the coast and on the river and in bays and estuaries.  ODFW officials say they have two options if testing does not improve over the next 3 weeks and that is to move the opening date into the new year, or designate certain areas that currently have high yield crab.  Commercial Dungeness crab is Oregon’s most valuable fishery. Last year’s delayed season opening still brought in the second highest ex-vessel value ever ($66.7 million) with 18.7 million pounds landed, just above the 10-year average.

EMAC Committee Vacancies

The City of Florence is in full committee mode as they work to solidify committee selections before the end of the calendar year.  Currently the city has vacant positions in several committees including the Environmental Management Advisory committee.  EMAC’s goal is to develop strategies and advise city council on protecting Florence’s health and environment and conserving its energy and natural resources.  The committee is also responsible for regulating the solid waste code to ensure compliance with the Department of Environmental Quality.  Applications for the EMAC committee and other committees are available at the city’s website, ci.florence.or.us.

Bag Ban Begins

Beginning January 1st in Oregon businesses that supply single use plastic bags for shoppers will no longer be allowed to do so.  House Bill 2509, that was passed in 2019 will prohibit retail stores and restaurants from  providing plastic and will have to offer recycled paper or reusable bags to customers.  Businesses may also charge a fee for the reusable bags in some cases.

Comedy Pet Performance

Tomorrow evening at the Florence events Center the Oregon Coast Humane Society and the Friends of the Florence Event Center will sponsor the World Famous Popovich Comedy Pet Theater featuring rescued pets that have been trained to perform using positive reinforcement.  Tickets for the event are $20 for adults and $10 for children under 12 and children under the age of 3 are free if sitting on a parent’s lap.  The event begins at 6:30 with a special reception at 5:00 pm which includes an art show.  Tickets can be purchased online at eventcenter.org or at the FEC box office.

Toys for Tots

Today is the Toys for Tots distribution.  Pete “Boa” Warren is coordinating the event for Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue

“11 o’clock is the actual start the entrance will be on the west side at the door on the north side.”

Warren says dress for rain.  He says there will not be room for waiting inside the firehouse, and it is supposed to rain for the duration of the event which will end at 6.  Proper identification is also required and information is available on SVFR’s Facebook and website.