Dungeness Crab Likely Back On Shelves Starting Next Week After Toxic Algae Problem

STOCKTON (CBS13) — Dungeness crab is making a comeback in California grocery stores after a toxic algae put the state's season on hold.

Next week, you'll be able to buy the crabs once again.

It's a key ingredient in Mother Love's most popular dish.

"Creole gumbo is a Louisiana style. You just can't do it until you have the taste for Louisiana style," the owner of Love Cafe & Seafood said.

She's from Louisiana, but she's been making her gumbo in Stockton for nine years.

"No sausage, no chicken, just crab, shrimp, and oysters," she said.

But the crab presented a problem. The employees at Cash and Carry had to break the news to her that California's Dungeness crab season was closed after a toxic algae was found in the crabs.

"I said do you guys have my Dungeness crab? The guys said, 'You know they put a stop on that, because of a problem with the water.' I said "What?!" she said.

Like many chefs, she had to settle for costly frozen crab meat. That price may go down as fresh crabs will start coming into California next month after the ban on commercial crabbing was lifted in Washington and Oregon.

Raley's has already placed orders and says it hopes to have them in stock by Jan. 6.

In California, crab season is still closed, but state health officials say the toxic levels appear to be subsiding.