As if Dungeness crab season needed more obstacles.
They report it as new as in newly discovered or evolutionary new. Didn't distinguish that I read.
Guessing newly discovered.
Not a commercially important species, but as noted it is ecologically important no doubt.
I'd hazard a guess if it was in Dungeness populations, they'd likely know about it, if it was causing issues especially.
Good thing is, many parasites are quite host specific. Don't do well if they get into another species.