Invertebrates of Interest: Crabs

Please access one of the following sources for up-to-date information concerning crab season dates and related information:

• Visit the CDPH Domoic Acid web page for the latest crab test analyses and results (under Analytical Data - Crabs).
• Call the CDFW Domoic Acid Fishery Closure Information Line at (831) 649-2883 for up-to-date information about the Dungeness crab and Rock crab seasons.
• Call the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Shellfish Biotoxin Information line at: (510) 412-4643 or toll-free at (800) 553-4133 for updated crab consumption advisories, or visit the CDFW Finfish and Shellfish Health Advisories web page.
• Sign up for the CDFW Marine Region News Service to receive the latest information about the crab seasons.
• Check the Marine Region News Room for press releases with information about the crab seasons.
• Call or drop by your local Marine Region CDFW office for the latest information before heading out on a crabbing trip.

Current Open and Closed Waters for Commercial Crab Fisheries due to Public Health Hazards

• Director's Declaration to Close the Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery Due to Significant Risk of Marine Life Entanglement (PDF) 4/2/2019
• Director's Letter to Dungeness Crab Permitholders Addressing Fishery Closure (PDF) 4/2/2019
• 2018-19 Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery Closure: Frequently Asked Questions (PDF) 4/5/2019
• NOTICE: Preliminary Determination of Significant Entanglement Risk (PDF) 3/28/2019
• Signed Declaration of the Commercial Rock Crab Fishery Closure Extension (PDF) 4/20/2018
• Recommendation to Open the Commercial Rock Crab Fishery in Most State Waters of Mendocino County (PDF) 4/20/2018 Memo from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment

Current Open and Closed Waters for Recreational Crab Fisheries due to Public Health Hazards

• Director's Declaration to Lift the Commercial and Recreational Dungeness Crab Fishery Closures from Patrick's Point, Humboldt County to the California/Oregon Border (PDF) 1/18/2019
• Recommendation to Lift the Opening of the Last Remaining Areas Closed to Commercial and Recreational Dungeness Crab Fishing (PDF) 1/18/2019 Memo from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
• Director's Declaration to Close the Recreational Dungeness Crab Season from Patrick's Point, Humboldt County (41° 8.00' N. Latitude) to the California/Oregon Border (PDF) 10/25/2018
• Recommendation to Delay the Opening of the Recreational Dungeness Crab Fishery from Patrick's Point to the Oregon Border (PDF) 10/25/2018 Memo from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
• Crab Trap Regulations (PDF)

News Releases and Blog Posts

• Commercial Dungeness Crab Season to Close Statewide April 15 (4/2/2019) 
• Recreational and Commercial Dungeness Crab Fisheries to Open in Humboldt County (1/18/2019)
• Northern Commercial Dungeness Crab Season Further Delayed in Ocean Waters North of Patrick's Point, Humboldt County Due to Public Health Hazard (1/7/2019) 
• Northern California Commercial Dungeness Crab Season Delay Extended (12/21/2018)
• Crab Quality Delays 2018-19 Northern California Dungeness Crab Season to Dec. 31 (12/7/2018)
• Commercial Dungeness Crab Season to Open in Sonoma County (12/3/2018)
• Commercial Dungeness Crab Season Delayed in Northern California (11/20/2018)
• New Regulations for Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery Effective Oct. 30, 2018 (11/15/2018)
• Southern Commercial Dungeness Crab Season Delayed in Ocean Waters North of Bodega Head Due to Public Health Hazard (11/9/2018)
• Recreational Dungeness Crab Fishery Delayed in State Waters in Northern Humboldt and Del Norte Counties Due to Public Health Hazard (10/25/2018)
• As Crab Season Ends, Time to Collect Gear (6/22/2018)
  Marine Management News blog post
• Commercial Rock Crab Continues to be Extended Northward to Near the Mendocino/Humboldt County Line (4/20/2018)
• Opening of Commercial Rock Crab Fishery Extended to Sonoma/Mendocino County Line (3/29/2018)
• Open Area of Commercial Rock Crab Fishery to be Extended to Salt Point, Sonoma County (1/16/2018)
• Dungeness Crab Health Advisory Lifted for Remainder of California Coast (12/29/2017)
  California Department of Public Health News Release
• CDPH Lifts Dungeness Crab Health Advisory in Mendocino and Humboldt Counties (12/22/2017)
  California Department of Public Health News Release
• Northern California Dungeness Crab Season Opener Delayed Again Due to Quality Testing(12/22/2017)
• Northern California Dungeness Crab Season Opener Pushed Back to Dec. 31 (12/12/2017)
• Commercial Dungeness Crab Season in Northern California (Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte counties) Delayed Due to Crab Quality Testing (11/27/2017)
• 2017-2018 Season Update for Recreational Dungeness Crab Fishing (11/9/2017)
  Marine Management News blog post
• CDPH Warns Recreational Anglers to Avoid Consuming the Viscera of Dungeness Crab Caught Along Parts on the Northern California Coast (11/3/2017)
  California Department of Public Health News Release
• Fish and Wildlife Director Extends Commercial Rock Crab Fishery Closure in Northern California Due to Public Health Hazard (5/16/2017)
• Commercial Rock Crab Fishery Now Extends to Bodega Bay (2/10/2017)
• Open Area for the Commercial Rock Crab Fishery Now Extends to Pillar Point, San Mateo County (1/25/2017)
• Last Remaining Area of Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery to Open (1/11/2017)
• More of Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery to Open from Point Arena to Ten Mile; One Area still Closed (12/23/2016)
• More of Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery to Open; One Area will Remain Closed (12/20/2016)
• More of Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery to Open Dec. 3; Some Areas Will Remain Closed (12/1/2016)
• Commercial Dungeness Crab Season to Open Throughout Most of the Southern Fishery; One Area Will Remain Closed (11/8/2016)
• Recreational Dungeness Crab Season to Open Statewide on Nov. 5 (11/2/2016)
• New Recreational Dungeness Crab Regulations Aim to Reduce 'Ghost Fishing' and More (10/5/2016)
  Marine Management News blog post
• Last Day of Northern California Recreational Dungeness Crab Season Approaches; New Crab Trap Regulations to Take Effect Aug. 1 (7/28/2016) 
  Marine Management News blog post 
• Commercial and Recreational Rock Crab Fisheries Now Open at Pigeon Point, San Mateo County (7/6/2016)
• Last Day of Recreational and Commercial Dungeness Crab Season South of Mendocino County Approaching (6/29/2016)
  Marine Management News blog post 
• Rock Crab Testing Continues in San Mateo and Sonoma Counties (6/17/2016)
  Marine Management News blog post
• Commercial and Recreational Rock Crab Fisheries Open Near Channel Islands (6/3/2016)
• Recreational Dungeness Crab Fishery Now Open Statewide, Commercial to Follow in Seven Days (5/19/2016) 
• California Recreational Dungeness Crab Season Open in Most of Northern California, Commercial Season Opens May 12 (5/4/2016)
  Marine Management News blog post
• More Areas Open for Recreational Dungeness Crab Fishing, Commercial Fishery to Open in Same Areas in 10 Days (5/2/2016)
• CDFW Announces Latest Dungeness and Rock Crab Openings (4/22/2016)
• Recreational and Commercial Dungeness Crab Fisheries Open South of Sonoma-Mendocino County Line, Crab Testing Continues (4/4/2016)
  Marine Management News blog post
• Recreational and Commercial Rock Crab Fishery Opens in Channel Islands, Excluding State Waters Between Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands (3/28/2016)
• Recreational Dungeness Crab Fishery Open South of Sonoma/Mendocino County Line, Commercial Fishery to Open in Seven Days (3/18/2016)
• California Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery Remains Closed While Crab Testing Continues (3/15/2016)
  Marine Management News blog post
• Recreational Dungeness Crab Fisheries Open South of Point Reyes (2/11/2016)
• State Seeks Federal Disaster Declarations for Commercial Crab Fishing (2/9/2016)
• Latest Information on California Crab Fishery Closures and Testing for Domoic Acid (1/29/2016)
  Marine Management News blog post
• Commercial and Recreational Rock Crab and Recreational Dungeness Crab Fisheries Open in Southern Portion of the State (12/31/2015)
• Update: California Crab Fishery Closures Continue (12/18/2015)
  Marine Management News blog post
• Reminder: California Crab Fishery Closures Continue (12/1/2015)
  Marine Management News blog post
• California Crab Sampling Effort for Domoic Acid Testing Continues (11/18/2015)
  Marine Management News blog post
• Commercial Dungeness Crab Season Opener Delayed and Commercial Rock Crab Season Closed (11/6/2015)
• Commission Delays Opener of Recreational Dungeness Crab Season and Closes Northern Part of the Recreational California Rock Crab Fishery (11/5/2015)
• Emergency Crab Closure Recommended, Commission to Meet Thursday (11/4/2015)

Memos, Notices and Findings

2018-2019 Season

• Director's Declaration to Close the Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery Due to Significant Risk of Marine Life Entanglement (PDF) (4/2/2019)
• NOTICE: Preliminary Determination of Significant Entanglement Risk (PDF) (3/28/2019)
• Director's Declaration to Lift the Commercial and Recreational Dungeness Crab Closure Areas from Patrick's Point, Humboldt County to the California/Oregon Border (PDF) (1/18/2019)
• Recommendation to Open the Last Remaining Areas Closed to Commercial and Recreational Dungeness Crab Fishing (PDF) (1/18/2019) Memo from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
• Director's Declaration to Delay the Commercial Dungeness Crab Season from Patrick's Point, Humboldt County (41° 8.00' N. Latitude) to the California/Oregon Border (PDF) (1/7/2019)
• Recommendation to Delay the Opening of the Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery From Patrick's Point to the Oregon Border (Humboldt and Del Norte Counties) (PDF) (1/7/2019) Memo from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
• Director's Memo to Delay the 2018-19 Northern California Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery to Jan. 15 (PDF) (12/21/2018)
• Director's Memo to Delay the 2018-19 Northern California Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery to Dec. 31 (PDF) (12/6/2018)
• Director's Declaration to Lift the Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery Closure from Bodega Head, Sonoma County to the Sonoma/Mendocino County Line (PDF) (12/3/2018)
• Recommendation to Open the Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery From the Southern Boundary of Bodega State Marine Reserve in Sonoma County to the Sonoma/Mendocino County Line (PDF) (12/3/2018) Memo from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
• Director's Memo to Delay the 2018-19 Northern California Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery to Dec. 16 (PDF) (11/20/2018)
• Director's Declaration to Delay the Commercial Dungeness Crab Season from Bodega Head, Sonoma County (38° 18.00' N. Latitude) to the Sonoma/Mendocino County Line (PDF) (11/9/2018)
• Recommendation to Delay the Opening of the Commercial Dungeness Crab Season from the Southern Boundary of Bodega Head State Marine Reserve in Sonoma County to the Sonoma/Mendocino County Line (PDF) (11/9/2018) Memo from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
• Director's Declaration to Close the Recreational Dungeness Crab Season from Patrick's Point, Humboldt County (41° 8.00' N. Latitude) to the California/Oregon Border (PDF)(10/25/2018)
• Recommendation to Delay the Opening of the Recreational Dungeness Crab Fishery from Patrick's Point to Oregon Border (Humboldt and Del Norte Counties)(PDF) (10/25/2018) Memo from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment

2017-2018 Season

• 2017-18 End of Season Memo to Dungeness crab Permitholders (PDF) (5/3/2018)
• Recommendation to Open the Commercial Rock Crab Fishery in Most State Waters of Mendocino County (PDF) (4/20/2018) Memo from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
• Recommendation to Open the Commercial Rock Crab Fishery Between Salt Point and the Sonoma/Mendocino County Line (PDF) (3/29/2018) Memo from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
• Recommendation to Open the Commercial Rock Crab Fishery Between Bodega Head and Salt Point in Sonoma County (PDF) (1/16/2018) Memo from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
• Director's Memo to Delay the Dungeness Crab Season Opener in Fish and Game Districts 6, 7, 8 & 9 Until January 15, 2018 (PDF) (12/22/2017)
• Director's Memo to Delay the Dungeness Crab Season Opener in Fish and Game Districts 6, 7, 8, 9 Until December 31, 2017 (PDF) (12/12/2017)
• Director's Memo to Delay the December 1 Dungeness Crab Season Opener in Fish and Game Districts 6, 7, 8, 9 (PDF) (11/20/2017)

2016-2017 Season

• Recommendation to Open the Commercial Rock Crab Fishery Between Pillar (37º 11' N Latitude) in San Mateo County and Bodega Head (38º 18' N  Latitude) in Sonoma County (PDF) (2/10/2017) Memo from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
• Recommendation to Open the Commercial Rock Crab Fishery Between Pigeon Point (37° 11' N Latitude) and Pillar Point (37° 30' N Latitude) in San Mateo County (PDF) (1/25/2017)
  Memo from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
• Recommendation on Opening of The Last Remaining Area Closed to Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishing (PDF) (1/11/2017)
  Memo from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
• Recommendation on Opening of Dungeness Crab Fishery in State Waters Between 38° 57.5' N Latitude and 39° 33.3' N Latitude (PDF) (12/23/2016)
  Memo from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
• Recommendation on Opening of Dungeness Crab Fishery in State Waters Between 1) 38° 34.5' N Latitude and  38° 57.5' N Latitude, and 2) 40° 46.15' N Latitude and 40° 01' N Latitude (PDF)          (12/20/2016) Memo from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
• Recommendation on Opening of Dungeness Crab Fishery in State Waters Between Point Reyes (38° 00' N Latitude) and  38° 34.5' N Latitude (Near Salt Point) (PDF) (12/1/2016) Memo from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
• Recommendation on Opening of Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery from 40° 46.15'  North Latitude North to the California/Oregon Border (PDF) (11/23/2016) Memo from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
• Finding of Emergency (PDF) (11/7/2016)
• Economic and Fiscal Impact Statement (PDF) - STD Form 399 (11/3/2016)
• Notice of Emergency Regulatory Action (PDF) (11/7/2016)
• Proposed Text of Emergency Regulation (PDF)
• Recommendation on Closure or Delay of Opening of Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery North of Point Reyes and Closure of the Commercial Rock Crab Fishery North of Pigeon Point (PDF) (11/7/2016) Memo from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment

2015-2016 Season

• Recommendation on Opening of Rock Crab Fishery in Portions of San Mateo County (PDF) (7/6/2016) Memo from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
• Recommendation on Opening of Rock Crab Fishery Near Channel Islands (PDF) (6/3/2016) Memo from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
• Recommendation on Opening of the Last Remaining Area Closed to Dungeness Crab Fishing (PDF) (5/9/2016) Memo from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
• Recommendation on Opening of Dungeness Crab Fishery in State Waters Between the California/Oregon Border and 41° 17.60’ N Latitude (PDF) (5/2/2016) Memo from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
• Recommendation on Opening of Dungeness Crab Fishery in State Waters of Mendocino and Portions of Humboldt Counties (PDF) (4/22/2016) Memo from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
• Recommendation on Opening of Rock Crab Fishery South of 36° 58.72’ N Latitude, With one Exception (PDF) (4/22/2016) Memo from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
• Recommendation Regarding Opening of Rock Crab Fishery Near Channel Islands, With the Exception of One Area (PDF) (3/28/2016) Memo from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
• Department Message to Commercial Fishermen on Dungeness Crab Opener (PDF) (3/24/2016)
• Recommendation on Opening of Dungeness Crab Fishery in State Waters South of the Sonoma/Mendocino County Line (PDF) (3/18/2016) Memo from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
• Department Update to Approach the Opening of the Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery (PDF) (2/17/2016)
• Recommendation Regarding Opening of Dungeness Crab Fishery in State Waters South of 38° 00' N Latitude (PDF) (2/11/2016) Memo from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
• California Governor Brown's Letter Requesting Federal Fishery Disaster Declarations (PDF) (2/9/2016)
• Dungeness and Rock Crab from Mainland Coasts of San Luis Obispo County and Counties to the South (PDF) (12/31/2015) Memo from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
• CDFW Emergency Statement to Amend Section 131, Title 14, California Code of Regulations (PDF) (11/6/2015)
• CDFW Notice of Emergency Action (PDF) (11/6/2015)
• CDFW Finding of Emergency (PDF) (11/6/2015)
• Domoic Acid Threat to Public (PDF) (11/6/2015) Memo from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
• Domoic Acid Threat to Public (PDF) (11/3/2015) Memo from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment