The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is closing the commercial Dungeness crab fishery from the Sonoma/Mendocino county line to the U.S./Mexico border (Fishing Zones 3, 4, 5, and 6). Commercial crabbing in the Northern Management Area, from the California/Oregon border to the Sonoma/Mendocino county line (Fishing Zones 1 and 2), will be limited to an area shoreward of the 30-fathom depth contour described in federal regulations.
CDFW map
The recreational Dungeness crab fishery will continue statewide with a recreational crab trap prohibition from the Sonoma/Mendocino county line to Point Conception (Fishing Zones 3, 4, and 5). CDFW reminds recreational crabbers that take of Dungeness crab by other methods (including hoop nets and crab snares) is allowed through the close of the season.
A Fleet Advisory is still in effect statewide for both commercial and recreational crabbers. Avoid setting gear in areas where whales are present, and follow best practices for crabbing as described in the Best Practices Guide. Crabbers should anticipate additional management measures in the coming weeks.
Aerial and vessel surveys conducted in mid-March show humpback whale numbers are increasing as they return to forage off the coast of California, elevating entanglement risk. The upcoming commercial season change and recreational trap restriction will help to minimize entanglement risk for migrating humpback whales. The next scheduled risk assessment is expected to occur in mid-April.
CDFW appreciates the assistance of permitted commercial crab vessels in the removal of all lost or abandoned gear encountered throughout the season, pursuant to Title 14, California Code of Regulations, Section 132.2(a)(2)(A). Under emergency regulations approved in early March, vessels are allowed to retrieve an unlimited number of lost, damaged, abandoned, or otherwise derelict commercial crab traps in Fishing Zones 3, 4, 5, and 6, starting at 6:00 a.m. on April 15, 2024. CDFW requests that individuals operating under the emergency regulations regularly report retrieved gear to WhaleSafeFisheries@wildlife.ca.gov. Note that any vessel operating in or transiting an open Fishing Zone may not possess more than six traps belonging to another vessel. As a reminder, all vessels must also carry onboard an electronic monitoring system capable of recording the vessel’s location while engaged in fishing activity.
For more information about the risk assessment process, please visit CDFW’s Whale Safe Fisheries page. For more information on the Dungeness crab fishery, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/crab.
post by Mary Patyten, CDFW Research Writer
Marine Management News 