Dungeness Crab Fleet Delayed North Of Sonoma County

MENDOCINO (CBS / AP) -- Crab fisherman north of Sonoma County cannot head to sea until the end of the month because the Dungeness crab population is still too small to harvest.

The Department of Fish and Game said crab from Mendocino County northward still have not developed enough meat to meet the state's quality standard, so the season there won't open until Dec. 31.

Farther south, San Francisco-area fishermen ended their nearly weeklong strike on Tuesday after reaching an agreement with fish brokers over price.

The two sides agreed on $3 per pound, ending the stalemate that kept boats from Half Moon Bay, San Francisco and Bodega Bay in harbor and local crab off of market shelves.

That season was interrupted Dec. 5 after fish brokers wanted to drop the price they were paying.

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