The commercial Dungeness crab fishing areas from Sonoma to Oregon will open on January 5, with the area from Cape Falcon to Cape Foulweather opening on December 31. The season was originally scheduled to start on November 15, but was postponed due to whale migration and low meat yield. Meat yield testing will be conducted before January 7, and if the yield reaches above 23%, the season will open on January 15, otherwise it may be delayed to February 1.