When can I get Dungeness crab in California? Here’s the new commercial season start date
Will there be fresh Dungeness crab from California in time for Christmas? What about New Year’s Eve?
Unfortunately for crab lovers, the commercial crabbing season won’t start until after the holidays, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Fishers can start harvesting Dungeness crab on Jan. 5 in two fishing zones in Northern California, stretching from the border between Sonoma and Mendocino counties to California’s border with Oregon, agency director Charlton H. Bonham officially declared on Wednesday.
Commercial crab fishing will remain on hold in fishing zones south of the Sonoma-Mendocino county border “until at least the next risk assessment due to elevated numbers of humpback whales resulting in increased entanglement risk,” Fish & Wildlife said in a news release Wednesday.
Why was California Dungeness crab season delayed?
The opening date for the commercial crab season has “experienced multiple delays this season due to a combination of excessive humpback whale entanglements and high numbers of whale sightings,” nonprofit group Oceana said in a news release Wednesday.
In addition, a critically endangered Pacific leatherback sea turtle was “entangled and drowned in commercial crabbing gear” off the Farallon Islands, the release said.
“We support the decision by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife that balances the financial considerations of fishermen while ensuring that whales off California can safely complete their seasonal migrations,” Ashley Blacow-Draeger, Oceana’s Pacific policy and communications manager, said in the release.
Oceana describes itself as the “largest international advocacy organization focused solely on ocean conservation. “
When will commercial crabbing be allowed in rest of state?
According to Wednesday’s declaration, Fish and Wildlife will reassess commercial crab fishing limitations on or around Jan. 11 to determine if commercial crab fishing can start in the rest of California.
Crab fishing in those areas could potentially open on or around Jan. 18, the agency said.
What about recreational crab fishing?
Also on Wednesday, Fish and Wildlife announced it’s continuing recreational crab trap restrictions for the area stretching from the Sonoma-Mendocino county line to Lopez Point in Monterey County.
That’s “due to the presence of humpback whales and the potential for entanglement with crab traps,” the agency said in the release.
The recreational trap restriction will remain in effect until at least the next risk assessment around Jan. 11, Fish and Wildlife said.
Recreational crab traps are currently allowed off the coast from the Oregon-California border to the border between Sonoma and Mendocino counties, as well as the area stretching from Lopez Point to Point Conception north of Gaviota.
Harvesting Dungeness crab recreationally using other methods, including hoop nets and crab snares, is still allowed, Fish and Wildlife said.
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