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 January 15 under a 15% gear reduction. The commercial fishery will open in the following areas at 12:01 a.m., January 15 preceded by a 64-hour gear setting period beginning at 8:01 a.m. on January 12.

California 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 in the Central Management Area. These changes, which will go into effect at 6 p.m. on May 1, 2025, are intended to minimize entanglement risk as humpback whales return to forage off the coast of California.

California 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. These changes, which will go into effect at 6 p.m. on April 15, 2025, are intended to provide continued fishing opportunities while minimizing entanglement risk as humpback whales return to forage off the coast of California.