News Archive

State health agencies determined that Dungeness crab from the southern boundary of the Reading Rock State Marine Protected Areas (41⁰ 17.6’ N. latitude) to Cape Mendocino, Humboldt County (40⁰ 10’ N. latitude), pose a human health risk due to elevated levels of domoic acid and recommended a delay of the recreational Dungeness crab fishery. Following this recommendation, CDFW Director Meghan Hertel has delayed the recreational Dungeness crab fishery in this area.

The recreational Dungeness crab season will open under trap restrictions beginning November 7, 2026, except in a portion of Northern California where it has been delayed due to a public health hazard.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director Meghan Hertel has assessed entanglement risk under the Risk Assessment Mitigation Program (RAMP) and announced a crab trap restriction in the recreational Dungeness crab fishery.

CDFW Director Meghan Hertel has assessed entanglement risk under the Risk Assessment Mitigation Program and announced changes to both commercial and recreational Dungeness crab fisheries in Fishing Zones 4 and 5.

The Director has declared that the last closed area of the commercial Dungeness crab fishery in Humboldt County will open at 12:01 a.m., January 30.