The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has opened doors to the commercial Dungeness crab fishery on the state's central coast with a new snag – a 50 percent trap cutback to aid the whales. Starting January 18, at the stroke of midnight, crabbers from the Sonoma/Mendocino county line down to the Mexican border can soak their half-numbered traps, following a 64-hour pre-soak beginning January 15 at 8 a.m., as reported by the CDFW.
Trudging through a gantlet of meetings and consultations, the CDFW landed on this move along with the Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear Working Group, which tossed its support behind the trap reduction. The aim is twofold: helping our big sea friends steer clear of entanglement and getting the commercial fleet back on the water, full throttle. "Today's action in the Central Management Area strikes a balance. It protects whales and turtles, and it gets people on the water allowing our hardworking commercial fishing fleet to provide fresh sustainable crab to California residents," CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham told the CDFW website.
The temporary recreational crab trap ban from the Sonoma/Mendocino county line to Lopez Point was lifted today at 8 a.m. But a fleet advisory's still looming over Fishing Zones 1-6 for commercial and recreational fishermen, leaving some chum in the water.
With their traps now counting half their usual company, commercial fishermen must play by the new rules, stowing at least 50 percent of their valid buoy tags onboard and keeping ready for CDFW's watchful eyes. They're also being nudged to snag any rogue gear that gets lost in the drink during the season, getting the green light to haul up to six forgotten traps per trip, according to the California Code of Regulations, so says the CDFW directive.
For those just tuning in, the crabbing clash could see another twist come mid-February when CDFW plans the next whale of a risk assessment. Until then, fishermen and crab lovers can find their sea legs on the official CDFW website, which houses all the must-knows on Dungeness crabbing rules and the latest whale-safe fishing efforts.
For further inquiries, you can call Ryan Bartling, CDFW Marine Region, at (415) 238-2638 or Stephen Gonzalez, CDFW Communications, at (916) 804-1714.
