Delays in opening the Dungeness crab season due to the unprecedented high levels of domoic acid in the crab have resulted in much less time on the water this season for both recreational and commercial crabbers. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) reminds the public that the last day of the recreational and commercial fishing seasons south of the Sonoma/Mendocino county line (located near the town of Gualala) is this Thursday, June 30. North of the Sonoma/Mendocino County line, the last day of the commercial season is Friday, July 15, while the last day of the recreational season is Saturday, July 30.
The rock crab recreational and commercial fisheries have no season closure dates, however the fisheries remain closed north of Sand Hill Bluff, Santa Cruz County (36° 58.72′ N latitude). The latest test results from rock crab samples are posted on the California Department of Public Health’s crab testing results website.
For the latest information, visit the CDFW ocean health advisory web page or crab web page, or call CDFW’s domoic acid fishery closure information line at (831) 649-2883.
post by Christy Juhasz, CDFW Marine Environmental Scientist
Marine Management News 