California officials delay start of 2023 Dungeness crab season to protect whales
Action taken to keep migrating whales from getting ensnarled in fishing lines
For the fifth consecutive year, California officials are delaying the Bay Area’s commercial Dungeness crab season to decrease the chances of migrating whales currently off the coast getting ensnarled by the crab-pot fishing lines.
The season was scheduled to start Nov. 15 in the waters from the Sonoma/Mendocino County line south to the Mexican border.
The order came down Friday afternoon from Charlton H. Bonham, director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
“Large aggregations of humpback whales continue to forage between Bodega Bay and Monterey and allowing the use of crab traps would increase the risk of an entanglement in those fishing zones,” he said in announcing the decision, which was made in consultation with the representatives of the fishing industry, environmental organizations and scientists.
“We will continue to work with both the recreational and commercial Dungeness crab fisheries to protect whales while working to maximize fishing opportunity.”
Although another assessment will take place on or around Nov. 17, an opening date in time for California residents to enjoy Dungeness for the Nov. 23 Thanksgiving holiday is unlikely. That assessment could, however, lead to an opening date of Dec. 1, officials said.
The recreational Dungeness season will be allowed to start as scheduled on Nov. 4 – but with restrictions. Crabbers may not use trap gear, according to the state order; only hoop nets and crab snares will be allowed until further assessment.
This is a developing story; come back for updates.