CDFW Newshttps://wildlife.ca.gov/NewsCDFW Closes Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery and Restricts Recreational Crab Traps in the Central Management Area, Limits Commercial Fishing to inside 30-Fathoms in Northern Management Area to Protect Whales from Entanglementhttps://wildlife.ca.gov/News/Archive/cdfw-closes-commercial-dungeness-crab-fishery-and-restricts-recreational-crab-traps-in-the-central-management-area-limits-commercial-fishing-to-inside-30-fMarineThu, 28 Mar 2024 16:55:51 GMTCalifornia Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director Charlton H. Bonham has assessed entanglement risk under the Risk Assessment Mitigation Program (RAMP) and announced changes to both commercial and recreational Dungeness crab fisheries. Aerial and vessel surveys conducted in mid-March show humpback whale numbers are increasing as they return to forage off the coast of California, elevating entanglement risk. To minimize this risk for humpback whales, changes to the Dungeness crab fisheries, as detailed below, will be effective at 6:00 p.m. on April 8, 2024.<p>California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director Charlton H. Bonham has assessed entanglement risk under the Risk Assessment Mitigation Program (RAMP) and <a href="https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=221424&Inline">announced changes to both commercial and recreational Dungeness crab fisheries</a>. Aerial and vessel surveys conducted in mid-March show humpback whale numbers are increasing as they return to forage off the coast of California, elevating entanglement risk. To minimize this risk for humpback whales, changes to the Dungeness crab fisheries, as detailed below, will be effective at 6:00 p.m. on April 8, 2024.</p> <p>The commercial Dungeness crab fishery in Fishing Zones 3, 4, 5 and 6 (Sonoma/Mendocino county line to the U.S./Mexico border) will be closed, at which time the commercial take and possession of Dungeness crab from those waters is prohibited.</p> <p>A 30-fathom depth constraint will be in effect for the commercial Dungeness crab fishery in Fishing Zones 1 and 2 (Sonoma/Mendocino county line to the Oregon border). Traps used by the commercial fishery in Fishing Zones 1 and 2 will be prohibited in waters seaward of the 30-fathom contour as defined in <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-VI/part-660/subpart-C/section-660.71">Title 50 of the Federal Codes of Regulations, Part 660, Section 660.71</a>. As a reminder all vessels must also carry onboard an <a href="https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=185074&inline">electronic monitoring system</a> capable of recording the vessel’s location while engaged in fishing activity.</p> <p>A recreational crab trap prohibition is being implemented in Fishing Zones 3, 4 and 5 (Sonoma/Mendocino county line to Point Conception). CDFW reminds recreational crabbers that take of Dungeness crab by other methods (including hoop nets and crab snares) is allowed through the close of the season.</p> <p>All open Fishing Zones remain under a Fleet Advisory for both the commercial and recreational Dungeness crab fisheries. In addition, CDFW reminds all fishery participants to implement best practices, as described in the <a href="https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=216638&inline">Best Practices Guide</a>, and to anticipate additional management measures in the coming weeks.</p> <p>Under <a href="https://wildlife.ca.gov/Notices/Regulations/Gear-Retrieval-Expansion">emergency regulations</a> approved in early March, CDFW has also authorized commercial Dungeness crab vessels to retrieve an unlimited number of commercial Dungeness crab traps which are lost, damaged, abandoned or otherwise derelict in Fishing Zones 3 through 6 starting at 6:00 a.m. on April 15, 2024. CDFW requests that individuals operating under the emergency regulations regularly report retrieved gear to <a href="mailto:WhaleSafeFisheries@wildlife.ca.gov">WhaleSafeFisheries@wildlife.ca.gov</a>. Any vessel operating or transiting in an open Fishing Zone may not possess more than six traps belonging to another vessel, pursuant to Title 14, California Code of Regulations, Section 132.2(a)(2)(A).</p> <p>CDFW anticipates the next risk assessment will take place in mid-April 2024. For more information related to the risk assessment process, please visit <a href="https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/Whale-Safe-Fisheries">CDFW’s Whale Safe Fisheries page</a>. For more information on the Dungeness crab fishery, please visit <a href="http://www.wildlife.ca.gov/crab">wildlife.ca.gov/crab</a>.<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"></span></p> <p>###</p> <p><em><strong>Media Contacts:</strong><br /> <a href="mailto:eRyan.Bartling@wildlife.ca.gov">Ryan Bartling,</a> CDFW Marine Region, (415) 238-2638<br /> <a href="mailto:steve.gonzalez@wildlife.ca.gov">Steve Gonzalez,</a> CDFW Communications, (916) 804-1714</em></p> CDFW Opens Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery in Northern Management Zone, Continues Commercial Fishery Delay in Central Management Areahttps://wildlife.ca.gov/News/Archive/cdfw-opens-commercial-dungeness-crab-fishery-in-northern-management-zone-continues-commercial-fishery-delay-in-central-management-areaMarineWed, 20 Dec 2023 15:28:48 GMTThe California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will open the commercial Dungeness crab fishery from the Oregon state line to the Sonoma/Mendocino county line (Fishing Zones 1 and 2) under a Fleet Advisory beginning Jan. 5, 2024 at 12:01 a.m. with a 64-hour pre-soak to begin on Jan. 2, 2024 at 8:01 a.m.<p>The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will open the commercial Dungeness crab fishery from the Oregon state line to the Sonoma/Mendocino county line (Fishing Zones 1 and 2) under a Fleet Advisory beginning Jan. 5, 2024 at 12:01 a.m. with a 64-hour pre-soak to begin on Jan. 2, 2024 at 8:01 a.m. The commercial fishery will remain delayed from the Sonoma/Mendocino county line to the U.S./Mexico border (Fishing Zones 3, 4, 5 and 6) until at least the next risk assessment due to elevated numbers of humpback whales resulting in increased entanglement risk.</p> <p>CDFW is also continuing the temporary recreational crab trap restriction from the Sonoma/Mendocino county line to Lopez Point, Monterey County, (Fishing Zones 3 and 4) due to the presence of humpback whales and the potential for entanglement with crab traps. The recreational trap restriction will be in effect until at least the next risk assessment. The use of recreational crab traps in Fishing Zones 1, 2 and 5 will be allowed. A Fleet Advisory remains in effect for the recreational fishery for all Fishing Zones (1-6). CDFW reminds recreational crabbers that take of Dungeness crab by other methods, including hoop nets and crab snares, is allowed during a temporary trap restriction. CDFW also encourages recreational crabbers to implement best practices, as described in the <a href="https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=216638&inline" target="_blank">Best Practices Guide</a>.</p> <p>CDFW anticipates the next risk assessment will take place on or around Jan. 11, 2024, at which time Director Charlton H. Bonham will re-evaluate available data to inform the potential for a commercial fishery opener in Fishing Zones 3-6 and modification of the recreational trap restriction. For more information related to the risk assessment process, please visit <a href="https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/Whale-Safe-Fisheries">CDFW’s Whale Safe Fisheries page</a>. For more information on the Dungeness crab fishery, please visit <a href="http://www.wildlife.ca.gov/crab">www.wildlife.ca.gov/crab</a>.</p> <p><em><strong>Media Contacts:</strong><br /> <a href="mailto:Ryan.Bartling@wildlife.ca.gov">Ryan Bartling</a>, CDFW Marine Region, (415) 238-2638<br /> <a href="mailto:Jordan.Traverso@wildlife.ca.gov">Jordan Traverso</a>, CDFW Communications, (916) 212-7352</em></p> New California Grunion Season and Limit Regulationshttps://wildlife.ca.gov/News/Archive/new-california-grunion-season-and-limit-regulationsMarineMon, 16 May 2022 13:35:35 GMTEarlier this year, the California Fish and Game Commission adopted regulatory changes to increase the length of the seasonal closure and create a bag and possession limit for grunion, an iconic species found in California and Baja California.<p>Earlier this year, the California Fish and Game Commission adopted regulatory changes to increase the length of the seasonal closure and create a bag and possession limit for grunion, an iconic species found in California and Baja California.</p> <p>Effective June 1, 2022, the new regulations add June to the seasonal no-take closure for grunion, which now extends from April 1 through June 30. Additionally, a bag and possession limit of 30 grunion was created.</p> <p>The main goal of the proposed amendments is to protect the existing population of grunion while allowing for a sustainable and satisfying recreational experience. Increasing the seasonal closure to include June will allow grunion more opportunities to spawn without being subject to recreational harvest. Additionally, the new bag and possession limit will ensure sustainable take of the species while allowing more grunion to remain in the population to spawn. These new changes were designed to help ensure a sustainable fishery and provide positive impacts to the California marine ecosystem, since grunion are a key prey item for a variety of marine species.</p> <p>California grunion facts, a schedule of expected runs and current regulations can be found on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s <a href="/Fishing/Ocean/Grunion">grunion web page</a>. During the open season, a California fishing license is required for persons 16 years and older, and grunion may be taken by hand only. No appliances of any kind may be used to take grunion, and no holes may be dug in the beach to entrap them.</p> <p>###</p> <p><em><strong>Media Contacts:</strong><br /> <a href="mailto:armand.barilotti@wildlife.ca.gov">Armand Barilotti</a>, CDFW Marine Region, (562) 342-7164<br /> <a href="mailto:kirsten.macintyre@wildlife.ca.gov">Kirsten Macintyre</a>, CDFW Communications, (916) 804-1714</em></p> <p><em>Grunion photo by CDFW</em></p>