News Archive

After delays due to entanglement risk, crab meat quality issues, and elevated levels of domoic acid, the commercial Dungeness crab fishery will open in portions of northern California on Jan. 15 under a 15% gear reduction. The commercial fishery will open in the following areas at 12:01 a.m., Jan. 15 preceded by a 64-hour gear setting period beginning at 8:01 a.m. on Jan. 12.

The January 2026 CDFW calendar of events is now available.

The last area of the recreational Dungeness crab fishery in Humboldt County opened today after being delayed due to elevated levels of domoic acid.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is initiating efforts in northern California to capture deer, elk and wolves by helicopter and outfit the animals with GPS collars.

CDFW will open the commercial Dungeness crab fishery in the Central Management Area (Sonoma/Mendocino County line to Point Conception beginning Jan. 5, 2026.