Park closes crab fishing along coast
PORT ANGELES — To protect people from severe health impacts, fishing for Dungeness crab along the coastal strip of Olympic National Park has been closed.
The previous regulations allowed for retention of up to six hard-shelled male crabs through September 15.
This emergency closure is designed to protect human health, as levels of the marine toxin domoic acid have exceed health standards in Dungeness crabs along the Washington coast.
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife previously closed the state coastline to crab fishing from the Columbia River north to the Queets River due to elevated domoic acid levels.
The Olympic National Park regulation change will extend the closure northward along the entire coastal strip of Olympic National Park.
Volleyball tourney
PORT ANGELES — A beach volleyball tournament will be held Saturday, Sept. 5 during the Jammin’ in the Park festival at the new Waterfront Park between Oak Street and Valley Creek.
The tournament is reverse coed format, with four players per team, including up to two males.
Teams may also have up to two substitutes.
The tournament will open with round robin play in either a recreational or competitive division, followed by a seeded, single-elimination tournament for each division.
Three courts will be available for the games starting at 9 a.m.
The tournament is limited to 12 teams, and registration is $25 per person or $100 per team.
To register, or for more information, email Norm Schaaf at nschaaf@merrillring.com, or phone 360-460-1365.
Umbarger wins
FORKS — Rick Umbarger came out on top as the winner of the West End Thunder drag race at the Forks Airport on Saturday.
After six rounds of competition, Umbarger drove his 1961 Ford Falcon to the winner’s circle with a 6.55-second lap.
