LONG BEACH — The delay in the opening of the Washington commercial Dungeness crab fishery in the area south of Klispan Beach will continue, according to a Dec. 7 notice to crabbers by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The specific date of when this area will open has not been determined.

WDFW’s Dan L. Ayres, coastal shellfish manager, said:

• All crab tested recently tested in Washington were below the action level of 30 parts per million of the marine toxin domoic acid.

• Oregon is required to test more crab samples for domoic acid and those results will not be available until sometime next week.

• At this time, Oregon is unable to support an opening of only a portion of their coast.

• Without support for a line in Oregon, WDFW agreed to extend the delay and avoid the chaos that a small area opening would create.

• Washington, Oregon and California crab fishery managers will meet on Friday, Dec. 18 (or sooner) to make a decision on the opening south of Klipsan.