Dungeness and Rock Crab Regulation Updates The Latest Information 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. Commercial Crab Fishery Information Current Open and Closed Waters for Commercial Crab Fisheries due to Public Health Hazards Director's Declaration to Lift Closure of the Commercial Rock Crab Fishery in Parts of Humboldt County (PDF) 5/23/2019 Recommendation to Open the Commercial Rock Crab Fishery in Portions of Humboldt County (PDF) 5/23/2019 Memo from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment Recreational Crab Fishery Information Current Open and Closed Waters for Recreational Crab Fisheries due to Public Health Hazards Summary of Recreational Dungeness Crab Regulations for 2020-2021 Season (PDF) 10/23/2020 News Releases, Memos, Notices and Blog Posts News Releases CDFW Director to Allow Commercial Dungeness Crab Season South of Sonoma/Mendocino County Line to Continue Until May 15, Then Close to Protect Whales 4/22/2020 Dungeness Crab Commercial Season Update 4/15/2020 Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery Update: Entanglement Risk Low, Fishery to Remain Open 3/13/2020 Northern Commercial Dungeness Crab Season Will Open Dec. 31 12/20/2019 Dungeness Crab Fishery Updates: Pending Commercial Opening in Central Fishery, Health Advisory Update to Recreational Fishery, and Additional Northern Commercial Quality Delay 12/10/2019 CDFW Director Delays Commercial Dungeness Crab Season South of the Sonoma/Mendocino County Line 11/22/2019 Dungeness Crab Commercial Season Update 11/20/2019 CDFW Announces Quality Delay for Commercial Dungeness Crab in Northern Fishery and Important Updates to Pending Opening in Central Fishery 11/15/2019 CDFW Director Issues Declaration to Delay Commercial Dungeness Crab Season South of Mendocino/Sonoma County Line 11/5/2019 CDFW Director Issues Preliminary Determination to Delay Commercial Dungeness Crab Season South of Mendocino/Sonoma County Line 11/1/2019 California Recreational Dungeness Crab Season Opens Nov. 2 11/1/2019 Shellfish Safety Notification: Consumers Warned not to eat the Viscera of Dungeness Crab 11/1/2019 California Department of Public Health News Release Commercial Rock Crab Fishery Opens from Cape Mendocino to Humboldt Bay 5/23/2019 Memos and Notices 2020-2021 Season 2019-2020 Season NOTICE: Director's Declaration to Close the Fishery South of the Sonoma/Mendocino County Line May 15 due to Significant Entanglement Risk (PDF) 4/22/2020 NOTICE: Preliminary Determination of Significant Entanglement Risk (PDF) 4/15/2020 Director's Memo to Delay the 2019-2020 Northern California Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery to Dec. 31 (PDF) 12/10/2019 Director's Declaration to Delay the Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery Due to Significant Risk of Marine Life Entanglement (PDF) 11/22/2019 Notice: Preliminary Determination of Significant Entanglement Risk (PDF) 11/20/2019 Director's Memo to Delay the 2019-2020 Northern California Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery to Dec. 16 (PDF) 11/15/2019 Director's Declaration to Delay the Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery Due to Significant Risk of Marine Life Entanglement (PDF) 11/5/2019 NOTICE: Preliminary Determination of Significant Entanglement Risk (PDF) 11/1/2019 Blog Posts Upcoming Regulation Changes for Commercial Dungeness Crab and Other Trap Fisheries 10/2/2019 Marine Management News Reducing the Risk of Marine Life Entanglement 9/25/2019 Marine Management News Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery Updates: 2019-2020 Season 9/19/2019 Marine Management News CDFW Featured Scientist: Christy Juhasz 4/18/2018 Science Institute Creature Feature: Red Rock Crab 11/18/2015 Marine Management News Regulations and Programs Regulations for Recreational Crab Fishery Recreational Regulations for Invertebrates Recreational Regulations for Crustaceans includes gear restrictions Recreational (Sport) Fishing License Information Regulations for Commercial Crab Fisheries 2020 California Commercial Fishing Regulations Digest Commercial Fishing License Information Dungeness Crab Trap Limit Program See Commercial Licensing for Latest Buoy Tag Affidavit Forms Surface Gear Regulations for Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery Effective Oct. 30, 2018 Commercial Dungeness Crab Gear Retrieval Program Lost or Abandoned Commercial Dungeness Crab Trap Gear Retrieval Permit (PDF) Trap Gear Retrieval Logbook (PDF) See more information under CDFW's Whale Safe Fisheries page here Standardized Commercial Trap Marking Program Regulations (not applicable to Commercial Dungeness Crab) Effective May 1, 2020 Proposed Regulations: Risk Assessment and Mitigation Program See more information under CDFW's Whale Safe Fisheries page here PSMFC Commercial Dungeness Crab News and Pre-Season Quality Test Results Link to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission website for pre-season crab quality testing results and other information California's coastal waters are home to a multitude of invertebrates (species lacking a bony skeleton). A small fraction of these, including a variety of crab species, are actually targeted by California's recreational and commercial fisheries. In the following links, visitors can learn more about crab species identification, biology, habitat, geographic range, fishing methods, and more. CDFW's Whale Safe Fishery Management Efforts are located here. INFORMATION ABOUT CRAB DISASTER RELIEF FUNDS Federal funding for the 2015-16 California Crab Fisheries Disaster has been received and the Department has concluded the direct payment disbursement portion of the disaster fund to eligible entities. Request for proposals have been received and approved under the mitigation portion of the fund. References NOAA Guidance Letter on Disaster Funds to PSMFC on June 21, 2018 (PDF) Department Spending Plan Proposal Letter Sent to PSMFC on September 7, 2018 (PDF) Frequently Asked Question (FAQs) 2019-2020 Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery - Frequently Asked Questions (PDF) Updated: January 15, 2020 Advisory Groups Dungeness Crab Task Force Link to the California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) website of the DCTF, the group that reviews and evaluates Dungeness crab fishery management Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear Working Group Collaborative effort between commercial and recreational fishermen, environmental organization representatives, members of the disentanglement network, and state and federal agencies to reduce the risk of whale entanglements with Dungeness crab fishing gear 2019-2020 Best Practices Guide for the Dungeness Crab Fishery (PDF) 2019-20 Risk Assessment Discussion and CDFW Determinations Reports and Information California Commercial Dungeness Crab Catch by Season, 1915/16-2017/18 (PDF) Dungeness Crab of California and Its Close Relatives (1986) Dungeness and other cancroid crab (rock, yellow and slender crabs) identification, biology, range, and fishing methods Life History Information for Selected California Marine Invertebrates and Plants Marine Species Portal with Status Reports for Select Fisheries Dungeness Crab Rock Crabs Status of the Fisheries Reports Overview of the fisheries with historical references for the following species Dungeness crab - 2011 (PDF) Dungeness crab - 2003 (PDF) Rock crab - 2003 (PDF) Sheep crab - 2003 (PDF) Dungeness crab - 2001 (PDF) Rock crab - 2001 (PDF) Sand crab - 2001 (PDF) Sheep crab - 2001 (PDF) Information on Harmful Algal Blooms Summary of Key Themes, Discussion Highlights and Next Steps: Harmful Algal Blooms Workshop March 22-23, 2018 (PDF) Workshop Hosted by California Ocean Protection Council and California Science Trust Framing the Scientific Opportunities on Harmful Algal Blooms and Commercial Fisheries October 2016 (PDF) Developed by a working group of the California Ocean Protection Council Science Advisory Team and California Ocean Science Trust
