The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has announced a delay in the start of the commercial Dungeness crab season, slated for zones extending from the Mendocino county line down to the Mexican border, until at least December 1 due to concerns over humpback whale entanglements. This precautionary action marks the seventh consecutive postponement of the commercial season, which customarily begins in mid-November. In a move intended to protect the migrating whales from becoming entangled in trap gear, a reassessment has been scheduled on or near November 15, ABC7 News reports.
While commercial fishermen will have to wait, the recreational Dungeness crab season is set to commence statewide on Saturday, albeit with certain restrictions. To the normal delight of watergoers, traps, a common tool for catching crustaceans, won't be allowed temporarily between the Sonoma/Mendocino County line and Lopez Point, Monterey County, as per the regulations set by CDFW. As a concession, officials have permitted alternative catching methods, like hoop nets and crab snares, in areas affected by the trap prohibition. These adjusted measures apply specifically to Fishing Zones 3 and 4, while Zones 1, 2, and 5 have been cleared for recreational crab traps upon the season's opening, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Last Friday, CDFW conducted a risk assessment, culminating in the delay for the commercial Dungeness crab season in Fishing Zones 3 through 6 and issuing a Fleet Advisory for all zones in the recreational fishery. The latest updates on these assessments and other measures for the 2024-25 season can be found on their Whale Safe Fisheries page, prompting anticipation for an upcoming risk assessment between November 14-15, which could result in adjustments to the current fishing restrictions, detailed in a CDFW statement.
