CDFW Continues Partial Leisure Crab Entice Restriction and Industrial Dungeness Crab Fishery Delay to Defend Whales from Entanglement and On account of Low Crab High quality
The California Division of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is constant the momentary leisure crab lure restriction in Fishing Zones 3, 4, 5 and 6 on account of presence of humpback whales and the potential for entanglement from lure gear. Nevertheless, the leisure crab lure restriction for Fishing Zones 1 and a couple of will probably be lifted on Nov. 28, 2022 at 9 a.m. CDFW reminds leisure crabbers that take of Dungeness crab by different strategies, together with hoop nets and crab snares, is allowed throughout a brief lure restriction.
The industrial Dungeness crab fishery in Fishing Zones 3-6 will even stay delayed on account of presence of excessive numbers of humpback whales and the potential for entanglement with strains and traps on this fishery.
CDFW anticipates the following danger evaluation will happen on or earlier than Dec. 7, 2022, at which era CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham will re-evaluate the momentary leisure crab lure restriction and industrial fishery delay in Fishing Zones 3-6. That danger evaluation is anticipated to tell the potential for a industrial fishery opener and modification of the leisure lure restriction in Fishing Zones 3-6 on Dec. 16, 2022.
“We admire the discussions with the California Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear Working Group concerning danger of entanglement,” stated Director Bonham. “In the end, we should depend on the very best accessible science and make administration selections based mostly on the Danger Evaluation Mitigation Program (RAMP) laws. CDFW stays dedicated to offering fishing alternative when danger of entanglement is low, which is in line with our administration method since implementation of RAMP.”
As well as, pursuant to Fish and Recreation Code 8672.2, Director Bonham has additionally delayed the northern California industrial Dungeness crab season on account of poor crab meat high quality take a look at outcomes (PDF) for Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte counties (Fishing Zones 1 and a couple of). The industrial Dungeness crab fishery on this space is delayed till 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022 pending one other spherical of meat high quality testing. If outcomes point out good high quality, the fishery will open and be preceded by a 64-hour gear setting interval that can start at 8:01 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022.
For extra info associated to the danger evaluation course of, please go to CDFW’s Whale Secure Fisheries web page or extra info on the Dungeness crab fishery, please go to wildlife.ca.gov/crab.
Media Contacts:
Ryan Bartling, CDFW Marine Area, (415) 238-2638
Jordan Traverso, CDFW Communications, (916) 212-7352
