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Dungeness Crab

Dungeness Crab 1

The largest and most flavorful Dungeness crab comes from Alaska, prized for its sweet flavor and tender, flaky meat.

 

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Scientific name: Metacarcinus magister (Cancer magister)

25%

Most Dungeness crab are 25% meat by volume making it one of the meatiest crabs available.

2-4

Harvesting wild Alaska Dungeness crab is a small-scale affair, using small boats crewed by between 2-4 people.

~400

According to NOAA, the Alaska Dungeness crab fishery supports 400 crab jobs, and about 190 crabbing boats.

Nutrition

Protein
19g
Vitamin B-12
8.8mcg (367% DV)
Omega 3
338mcg
Wild Alaska Dungeness crab is loaded with vitamin B-12, high quality protein, and omega-3s.
  • The high protein content of Alaska Dungeness crab is easily digestible, and has all nine amino acids the body can’t produce itself — a complete protein of the highest quality.
  • Vitamin B-12 helps form red blood cells and prevent anemia, reduces the risk of macular degeneration, prevents neuron loss, supports bone loss, prevents osteoporosis and supports healthy skin, hair, and nails.
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DV = Daily Value // 3.0 oz = 85g Source: USDA Standard Reference Release 28

Harvesting & Seasonality

Available year-round! Although harvested seasonally, the high-quality standards for freezing of wild Alaska Dungeness crab means it can be purchased throughout the year.

Crab harvesting seasons calendar

Wild Alaska Dungeness crab is harvested using pots across the waters surrounding Alaska.

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Sustainability & Environment

In Alaska, protecting the future of both the stocks and environment takes priority over opportunities for commercial harvest. State managers use harvest data from previous and ongoing seasons to determine both predicted and actual crab numbers. They compare these, and will shut down the fishery if there are too few crabs in the water. Through these methods, managers ensure Alaska Dungeness crab will be available for generations to come.

The Dungeness crab harvest is limited by the 3 S’s; size, sex and season. Only males with a carapace of at least 6.5 inches can be caught, and harvest is not permitted during mating and molting!

Wild Alaska Dungeness crab facts:

  • A widespread species sticking close to shore that prefers waters 27 meters or shallower.
  • Variable in size, though males average 2-3 lbs., crabs of up to 10 lbs. have been caught.
  • Wary of danger, it is known to bury itself in sand or roll onto its back to defend itself with its claws if threatened.
  • Some females in Alaska waters fast for at least 6 months while carrying eggs, an anomaly not seen in the species elsewhere. It’s also only in Alaska that they spawn biennially rather than annually.

Product Forms & Availability

Alaska Dungeness crab is available fresh as a live product, and also cooked in whole or in clusters/sections. As a frozen product it is available cooked either whole, in clusters/sections, and out of the shell.

Find Alaska Dungeness crab at restaurants and in your local grocer in the frozen section as well as in the fresh case seasonally. Unsure about origin? Just #AskforAlaska.

Purchase directly from sellers using our supplier’s directory.

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Cooking

Look for pre-cooked and ready-to-eat wild Alaska Dungeness at your local grocery whole or in clusters. Just steam, saute, broil, grill or bake for 4 minutes to heat through. Great in salads, sandwiches and pastas.

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