CDFW News

Commercial Dungeness Crab ‘Pop-up’ Fishing Gear Now Authorized for the Entire Central Management Area, Depth Restriction in Northern Management Area to Protect Whales from Entanglement

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 12:01:06 GMT

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director Meghan Hertel has assessed entanglement risk under the Risk Assessment Mitigation Program (RAMP) and announced changes to the commercial Dungeness crab fishery (PDF) in Fishing Zones 1, 2 and 3 (California/Oregon border to Pigeon Point, 37°11' N. Latitude).

In Fishing Zone 3 (Sonoma/Mendocino County line, 38° 46.125’ N. Latitude, to Pigeon Point) the commercial fishery will close at 6 p.m. April 30, 2026, at which time the commercial take and possession of Dungeness crab from those waters is prohibited with traditional trap gear.

Director Hertel is also authorizing the use of alternative gear, or pop-up fishing gear, in the commercial Dungeness crab fishery in Fishing Zone 3 beginning 7 a.m. May 7, 2026. This action is intended to minimize entanglement risk while continuing fishing opportunities as humpback whales return to forage off the California coast. Pop-up gear was previously authorized for use in Fishing Zones 4 and 5 on April 3, 2026. Pop-up fishing gear uses buoys and lines attached to traps, just like traditional crab traps, however the buoys and lines remain coiled on the seafloor with the traps. When a commercial fisherman is ready to retrieve their gear, a remote signal triggers the buoy to release, carrying the line to the surface and allowing for immediate retrieval.

Visit the Whale Safe Fisheries page for more information about Alternative Gear types approved for use and configurations in the conditional authorization documents.

The commercial fishery will remain open in Fishing Zones 1 and 2 (California/Oregon border to the Sonoma/Mendocino County line) under existing crab trap reductions and a 30-fathom depth restriction will be implemented effective 6 p.m. April 30, 2026. Based on historical migration data, CDFW anticipates an increase in whale abundance in the upcoming weeks. Individuals should remain vigilant and be prepared to remove gear quickly, to minimize entanglement risk in these Fishing Zones.

Pursuant to Sections 132.2(a)(2)(F) and 132.7, Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, permitted commercial Dungeness crab vessels are authorized to retrieve lost, damaged, abandoned, or otherwise derelict based on the following conditions:

Beginning on April 3, 2026, at 6 a.m. in Fishing Zones 4 and 5, an unlimited number of commercial Dungeness crab traps which are lost, damaged, abandoned or otherwise derelict may be retrieved.
Beginning April 17, 2026, at 6 a.m., vessels or operators using or possessing& authorized Alternative Gear or otherwise participating in the Dungeness crab fishery as defined in Section 132.8(i) in Fishing Zones 4 and 5 may retrieve an unlimited number of derelict traps. If fishing in Fishing Zone 3 with authorized Alternative Gear pursuant to Section 132.8(i) only six derelict traps belonging to another may be retrieved and possessed.
Beginning on May 7, 2026, at 6 a.m. in Fishing Zone 3, an unlimited number of commercial Dungeness crab traps which are lost, damaged, abandoned or otherwise derelict may be retrieved.
Beginning on May 28, 2026, at 6 a.m., vessels fishing authorized Alternative Gear in Fishing Zone 3 may retrieve an unlimited number of derelict traps.
All crustaceans and finfish must be immediately returned to the water and not retained when retrieving lost, abandoned, or derelict Dungeness crab traps pursuant to the Declaration.

Permitted commercial Dungeness crab vessels retrieving gear pursuant to Section 132.2(a)(2)(D) must report their activities to LostGear@wildlife.ca.gov and LEDMarineNotifications@wildlife.ca.gov. 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).

CDFW anticipates the next risk assessment will take place in early May 2026. For more information related to the risk assessment process or trap gear retrieval, visit CDFW’s Whale Safe Fisheries page. For more information on the Dungeness crab fishery, visit wildlife.ca.gov/crab.

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Media Contacts:
Ryan Bartling, CDFW Marine Region, (415) 238-2638
Steve Gonzalez, CDFW Communications, (916) 804-1714

Commercial Rock Crab Fishery Opens from California/Oregon Border to Humboldt Bay

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 15:24:03 GMT

Following a recommendation from state health agencies, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced the reopening of the commercial rock crab fishery in northern California from the California/Oregon border (42° 00.00’ N. Lat.) to the Humboldt Bay entrance at the north jetty (40° 46.15’ N. Lat.). This area has remained closed for nearly a decade following a domoic acid outbreak and lack of sampling effort in subsequent years.

The northern rock crab commercial fishery (California/Oregon border to Ventura/Santa Barbara County line) was originally closed via emergency rulemakings in 2015. This closure was a precautionary measure to ensure public safety during the largest recorded outbreak of domoic acid along the west coast. In November 2016, the closure was continued through emergency action until CDFW Director declarations were initiated pursuant to Fish and Game Code Section 5523 (effective after January 1, 2017). Although the domoic acid event eventually dissipated, the fishery could not reopen until testing confirmed domoic acid levels in rock crab were below federal action levels.

Over the course of several years, rock crab samples from central and northern California were submitted by commercial fishermen to reopen portions of the fishery. The last reopening occurred in May 2019 in the area between Cape Mendocino, Humboldt County (40° 30.00’ N. Lat.) to the north jetty of the Humboldt Bay entrance (40° 46.15’ N. Lat.). Recent testing from rock crab samples taken in the northern area show that commercial rock crab fishing may safely resume in this area. The commercial rock crab fishery remains closed in one remaining area from the Mendocino/Humboldt County line (40° 00.00’ N. Lat.) to Cape Mendocino, Humboldt County (40° 30.00’ N. Lat.).

Historically, the northern fishery has had very little commercial fishing effort for rock crab. In the five years prior to the 2015 closure, landings totaled 365 pounds with a value of roughly $1,000. Renewed interest in fishing for rock crab in the area led to the collection of samples to reopen the fishery.

With this reopening, CDFW reminds all fishery participants to avoid setting gear when whales are present to minimize entanglement risk and to implement best fishing practices, including minimizing excess lines floating on the surface, reducing slack surface line, and keeping vertical lines taut.

The latest information on current fishing season closures related to domoic acid will be updated on CDFW’s fishery closure information and health advisories website or by calling CDFW’s Domoic Acid Fishery Closure Information Line at (831) 649-2883.

The latest domoic acid test results for crab are posted on the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) Domoic Acid website (subsection Analytical Data – Crabs).

For the latest consumption warnings, please check for any rock crab health advisory information on the CDPH's shellfish advisories page or by calling CDPH’s Biotoxin information Line at (510) 412-4643 or toll-free at (800) 553-4133.

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Media Contacts:
Christy Juhasz, CDFW Marine Region, (707) 292-2480
Steve Gonzalez, CDFW Communications, (916) 804-1714

CDFW Opens Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery in Northern Management Zone, Continues Commercial Fishery Delay in Central Management Area

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 15:28:48 GMT

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.

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 Best Practices Guide.

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 CDFW’s Whale Safe Fisheries page. For more information on the Dungeness crab fishery, please visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/crab.

Media Contacts:
Ryan Bartling, CDFW Marine Region, (415) 238-2638
Jordan Traverso, CDFW Communications, (916) 212-7352

New California Grunion Season and Limit Regulations

Mon, 16 May 2022 13:35:35 GMT

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.

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.

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.

California grunion facts, a schedule of expected runs and current regulations can be found on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s grunion web page. 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.

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Media Contacts:
Armand Barilotti, CDFW Marine Region, (562) 342-7164
Kirsten Macintyre, CDFW Communications, (916) 804-1714

Grunion photo by CDFW