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 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.
Please visit the Whale Safe Fisheries webpage 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:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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, please visit CDFW’s Whale Safe Fisheries page. For more information on the Dungeness crab fishery, please 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