California Commercial Dungeness Crab Season Will Close Statewide April 15, 2019

Commercial crabber hauls in a crab pot.
CDFW photo

The California commercial Dungeness crab fishery will close statewide on April 15, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Charlton H. Bonham issued a Declaration today to close the commercial Dungeness crab fishery in all commercial fishery management zones. The closure is needed due to a greater risk of whales becoming entangled in commercial Dungeness crab pots, lines, and buoys during the spring and summer months.

All commercial Dungeness crab fishing gear must be removed from ocean waters and landings must be completed by April 15, 2019 at 11:59 p.m.

This closure only applies to the commercial Dungeness crab fishery.

Vegetation Survey Diving in San Francisco Bay: Herring Spawn Report

Staff have been busy searching the bay but no new Pacific herring spawns have been detected since the Alameda spawn earlier this month. CDFW scientific divers have, however, been busy conducting annual scuba surveys to determine vegetation types and densities for areas where herring typically spawn.

Pacific Herring FMP Peer Review Webinar to be Held on October 9

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is currently developing a Pacific Herring Fishery Management Plan. California Ocean Science Trust, with support from the Ocean Protection Council, and at the request of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Fish and Game Commission, coordinated an external, independent peer review of the scientific and technical merits of the proposed management strategy within the draft fishery management plan.

Pacific Herring Fishery Management Plan Notice of Preparation and Scoping Meeting for the Environmental Impacts Document

CDFW photo

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and California Fish and Game Commission are preparing a Pacific Herring (Clupea pallasii) Fishery Management Plan. CDFW, assisting the Commission under its certified regulatory program, has prepared an initial study, detailed project description, and a preliminary analysis of the environmental impacts pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act.

CDFW is inviting interested members of the public to attend a scoping meeting on August 25, 2018 at the Bay Model Visitor’s Center, 2100 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA from 10:00 a.m. to noon. The meeting is being held to solicit comments on the environmental impacts of the proposed project and answer questions related to plan development.

The public comment period for this project is from August 17, 2018 through September 21, 2018. Comments may also be submitted by email to CDFW Environmental Scientist Ryan Bartling or by letter to: