Invertebrates of Interest: Crabs

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

• 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.
• Visit the CDPH Domoic Acid web page for the latest crab test analyses and results.
• 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.

• Signed Declaration of the Commercial Rock Crab Fishery Closure Extension (5/16/2017)
• Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery Frequently Asked Questions (12/20/2016)
• Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery Frequently Asked Questions (11/29/2016)
• Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery 'Fair Start' FAQ

• New Crab Trap Regulations (PDF)

News Releases and Blog Posts

• 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)
• CDPH Lifts Rock Crab Health Advisory in Portions of Marin and Sonoma Counties (2/10/2017) California Department of Public Health news release
• Open Area for the Commercial Rock Crab Fishery Now Extends to Pillar Point, San Mateo County (1/25/2017)
• CDPH Lifts Rock Crab Health Advisory in Portions of San Mateo County - South of Pillar Point (1/25/2017) California Department of Public Health news release
• Last Remaining Area of Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery to Open (1/11/2017)
• Dungeness Crab Health Advisory Lifted for Remainder of California Coast (1/11/2017)
  California Department of Public Health news release
• More of Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery to Open from Point Arena to Ten Mile; One Area still Closed (12/23/2016)
• Dungeness Crab Health Advisory Lifted in Portions of Mendocino County (12/23/2016)
  California Department of Public Health news release
• More of Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery to Open; One Area will Remain Closed (12/20/2016)
• Dungeness Crab Health Advisory Lifted in Portions of Sonoma, Mendocino, Humboldt Counties (12/20/2016)
  California Department of Public Health news release
• More of Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery to Open Dec. 3; Some Areas Will Remain Closed (12/1/2016)
• Dungeness Crab Health Advisory Lifted From Portions of Northern California Coast (12/1/2016)
  California Department of Public Health news release
• Commercial Dungeness Crab Season to Open Throughout Most of the Southern Fishery; One Area Will Remain Closed (11/8/2016)
• CDPH Reminds Consumers to Avoid Eating Viscera of Rock Crab Caught in Northern California (11/8/2016)
  California Department of Public Health news release
• Recreational Dungeness Crab Season to Open Statewide on Nov. 5 (11/2/2016)
• CDPH Warns Recreational Anglers to Avoid Consuming the Viscera of Dungeness Crab Caught North of Point Reyes (11/2/2016)
  California Department of Public Health news release
• CDPH Lifts Warning for Rock Crabs, Bivalve Shellfish Caught along Central Coast (10/26/2016)
  California Department of Public Health news release
• New Recreational Dungeness Crab Regulations Aim to Reduce 'Ghost Fishing' and More (10/5/2016)
  Marine Management News blog post
• CDPH Warns Consumers Not to Eat Rock Crabs, Bivalve Shellfish Caught Along Central Coast (8/19/2016)
  California Department of Public Health news release
• 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)
•  Rock Crab Health Advisory Lifted in Portions of San Mateo County (7/6/2016) California Department of Public Health news release
• 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)
• Rock Crab Health Advisory Lifted for Remainder of Channel Islands (6/3/2016)
  California Department of Public Health news release
• Recreational Dungeness Crab Fishery Now Open Statewide, Commercial to Follow in Seven Days (5/19/2016) 
• Final Dungeness Crab Health Advisory Lifted Along California Coast (5/19/2016)
  California Department of Public Health news release
• 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)
• Dungeness Crab Health Advisory Lifted along Northern California Coast (5/2/2016)
  California Department of Public Health news release
  
• CDFW Announces Latest Dungeness and Rock Crab Openings (4/22/2016)
• Dungeness Crab Health Advisory Lifted in Mendocino and Portions of Humboldt Counties (4/22/2016)
  California Department of Public Health news release
• Rock Crab Health Advisory Lifted for Monterey County (4/22/2016)
  California Department of Public Health news release
• 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)
• Rock Crab Health Advisory Lifted Near Channel Islands (3/28/2016) 
  California Department of Public Health News Release
• Recreational Dungeness Crab Fishery Open South of Sonoma/Mendocino County Line, Commercial Fishery to Open in Seven Days (3/18/2016)
• Dungeness Crab Health Advisory Lifted in Sonoma County (3/18/2016)
  California Department of Public Health news release
• 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)
• Dungeness Health Advisory Lifted Along Central California Coast (2/11/2016)
  California Department of Public Health news release
• 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
• Dungeness and Rock Crab Health Advisory Partially Lifted along the California Coast (12/31/2015)
  California Department of Public Health news release
• 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
• CDPH Updates Warning about Certain Seafood Caught along the Northern and Central California Coastline (11/13/2015)
  California Department of Public Health news release
• 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)
• CDPH Issues Warning about Dungeness and Rock Crabs Caught in Waters Along the Central and Northern California Coast (11/3/2015)
  California Department of Public Health news release

Memos, Notices and Findings

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 (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 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 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) (12/1/2016)
  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