Oregon crabbers "are on pace to break the record of 18.2 million pounds set back in 1980," Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission executive director Nick Furman said in a press release.

"If the spring and summer fisheries hold up, we'll undoubtedly raise the bar here on the Oregon Coast."

So far, during the season that opened Dec. 1, fishermen have delivered more than 16.7 million pounds of the tasty crustacean to Oregon processors. In December, 12.4 million pounds were landed; in January, crabbers caught 4.3 million pounds.

Furman cited the new state-supervised price negotiation process as part of the season's success. For the first time in years, the season opened on Dec. 1; compensation disputes didn't keep crabbers from fishing. Representatives of four fishermen's marketing associations and six seafood processors took advantage of recently passed state legislation that lets industry members to meet in face-to-face price negotiations under the supervision of the Oregon Department of Agriculture. With protection from both state and federal anti-trust action, the parties were able to agree upon a starting price two weeks before the opening date.

The scheduled start allowed processors and distributors to get their products in stores and restaurants in time for holiday sales.

"Obviously, the crabs were abundant and ready to harvest," Furman said, "but the on-time start enabled the fleet to maximize fishing time and effort over the past eight weeks, resulting in the phenomenal landing figures we're seeing."

Dungeness crab is Oregon's most valuable fishery. In the 2003 calendar year, it meant $36.4 million to the state's economy, not counting additional sales after the crab is processed and sold to retail or restaurant outlets. Washington and California followed closely, with $32.8 million and $32.7 million, respectively.

- Susan Chambers, staff writer