Commercial Dungeness Crab Season Put On Hold for 3 Calif. Counties

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has put the Northern California commercial Dungeness crab season for Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte counties (Fishing Zones 1 and 2) on hold until Dec. 1.

State fish and wildlife officials said in Nov. 25 announcement that the opener was being delayed because crab meat quality tests could not be conducted due to high domoic acid concentrations in crab collected at Northern California port locations.

The agency also said that additionally high numbers of humpback and blue whale were observed in these fishing zones, creating an elevated entanglement risk.

The commercial Dungeness crab fishery delay in Fishing Zones 3 through 6, which constitutes the rest of the California coast, is scheduled to continue due to the presence of humpback whales and a high risk of entanglement, they said.

The next risk assessment is scheduled to take place around Dec. 5, and is expected to inform the agency about the potential for a statewide commercial fishery opener and lifting of the recreational trap restriction on or about Dec. 15.

Particularly in Northern California, these potential actions are dependent on safe domoic acid levels in Dungeness crab, according to the agency. The state has continued to delay the recreational Dungeness crab opener in northern California due to unhealthy levels of domoic acid in crab taken from the California/Oregon state line to the southern boundary of the Reading Rock marine protected areas in Humboldt Count on the recommendation of state health agencies.

CDFW said the closure would remain in effect until further notice.

Source: https://fishermensnews.com/commercial-dungeness-crab-season-put-on-hold-for-3-calif-counties/