Dungeness Crab takes its name from a river and point in the Olympic Peninsula of Washington state, which in turn was named for the Dungeness Headland in England, overlooking the Straight of Dover.

Males only (for size and to preserve breeding females) are harvested from Alaska to California and sold live or processed to a growing market. On the West coast, it is harvested nearly year round from the clean, cold waters of the Pacific ocean.

The basic biology of the Dungeness crab is well known. Crabs grow by shedding their old shell, a process called molting. During their first two years, crabs molt several times. At a size of about 4", or by the third year of life, molting becomes less frequent, occurring only once each year. During an annual molt, a crab will grow about 1". Just after molting, crabs are very watery and soft and their shell is easily punctured. They dig into the sand and stay there for several days while their shell starts to harden. Approximately two to three months are required for an adult crab to completely harden and fill with meat. Most males molt during the summer and fall months, but the time can vary greatly by year and area.