The days of Christmas crab seem to be pretty much behind us, and the issue of whale entanglements with crab pots are yet a new wrinkle in our relationship with the Dungeness crop, joining low body meat and price standoffs between fishermen and buyers as yet another thing that stands between us and our most prized seasonal delicacy.
All that said, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife has declared that the season is just about ready to proceed, and with any luck you’ll be able to put some crab on your table for New Year’s Eve. Fishermen setting their pots south of Point Arena will be at 50 percent capacity, due to the ongoing presence of humpback whales, but up here in the far north we’ve been given the all-clear.
Press release from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife:
The
California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will open the
commercial Dungeness crab fishery statewide on Dec. 31, 2022. Fishing
Zones 3-6 (all areas south of the Sonoma/Mendocino county Line) will
open under a 50 percent trap reduction on Dec. 31, 2022 at 12:01
a.m., with a 64-hour gear setting period to begin on Dec. 28, 2022 at
8:01 a.m. This trap reduction will help reduce risk of entanglement
as humpback whales continue to migrate to winter breeding grounds.
Commercial Dungeness crab vessels operating in Fishing Zones 3-6 must
understand and comply with the restrictions by reviewing the
CDFW Declaration
(PDF).
Any commercial Dungeness Crab vessel fishing in or transiting Fishing
Zones 3-6, regardless of fishing location, is subject to the 50
percent reduction and must have at least half of their valid buoy
tags for the current fishing season onboard and available for
inspection by CDFW at all times until the trap reduction is lifted.
Fishing
Zones 1 and 2 (Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte counties) had been
delayed due to poor meat quality results but recent
tests (PDF) indicate
crab are ready for market. The fishery will open on Dec. 31, 2022 at
12:01 a.m., with a 64-hour gear setting period that will begin at
8:01 a.m. on Dec. 28, 2022.
“Our
department appreciates the ongoing partnership and input from the
Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear Working Group and the numerous
researchers and federal agency partners that inform the Risk
Assessment Mitigation Program,” said CDFW Director Charlton H.
Bonham. “Through this partnership, CDFW has conducted four risk
assessments this season and coordinated the collection of the best
available science to protect whales while providing fishing
opportunity for this iconic fishery.”
CDFW
is continuing the temporary recreational crab trap restriction in
Fishing Zones 3, 4, 5 and 6 due to presence of humpback whales and
the potential for entanglement from trap gear. The recreational crab
trap restriction for Fishing Zones 1 and 2 was lifted on Nov. 28,
2022. The recreational fishery has been open statewide since Nov. 5,
2022, allowing crabbers the opportunity to harvest Dungeness crab in
advance of the commercial fishery. CDFW reminds recreational crabbers
that take of Dungeness crab by other methods, including hoop nets and
crab snares, is still allowed during a temporary trap restriction.
Available
data indicate whales remain in Fishing Zone 3, particularly in waters
around Point Reyes and the Farallon Islands. As a result, Director
Bonham is also issuing a Fleet Advisory for Fishing Zones 3-6 and
reminds both the commercial and recreational fishers to avoid setting
gear in areas where whales are transiting or foraging and to follow
best practices, as described in the Best
Practices Guide (PDF).
CDFW
anticipates the next risk assessment will take place on or around
Jan. 18, 2022, at which time Director Bonham will re-evaluate the
commercial trap reduction and temporary recreational crab trap
restriction in Fishing Zones 3-6.
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