SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CN) — After a series of delays this year, commercial Dungeness crab season will start on Jan. 5 for most of California.
The Sonoma-Mendocino county line to the Mexico border will open at 12:01 a.m. that day, with a 50% trap reduction will be in effect. The remainder of the California coast opens to commercial fisheries on Jan. 15, though that northernmost area will have a 25% trap reduction, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Friday.
The department pointed to the inability to perform industry-sponsored meat quality testing as the reason for the delay in the northernmost coastal regions. The Jan. 15 opening date is by default.
“My action today strikes a balance between the needs of the fishery and the needs of California’s marine species,” said department director Charlton H. Bonham in a statement. “Reducing the number of traps in the water is a successful management measure we have utilized before.”
Humpback whales being spotted in fishing areas and fishing gear entanglements led the fish and wildlife department over the past few years to delay the commercial season’s start. The trap reductions are expected to lower the number of entanglements, which led to the season’s opening as early as possible, the department said.
Last season, the northern areas remained closed until Jan. 5 and the central zones didn’t open until Jan. 18. Despite these delays, the department said the state’s Dungeness crab industry is one of California’s most successful with around $45 million hauled in on average each year over the past five years.
In addition to the commercial fishery announcement, the department also is lifting a temporary recreational crab trap restriction at 8:01 a.m. Jan. 2 in the central zones — the Sonoma-Mendocino county line to Lopez Point in Monterey County.
A fleet advisory, meaning people should use best practices to reduce marine life entanglements, remains effective in all zones for commercial and recreational fisheries.
Commercial fishers are asked to remain watchful for lost or abandoned gear during the upcoming season. Permitted commercial vessels can retrieve a maximum of six derelict commercial Dungeness crab trips on each fishing trip.
Lisa Damrosch, executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, praised the department’s work with the Dungeness crab industry in setting a start date for the season that brings balance between their jobs and the need to reduce marine animal risk.
“It is always a good thing when California’s commercial fishing fleet can get to work, delivering healthy, sustainable seafood to our communities,” Damrosch said in a statement. “Delays are difficult, and fisheries management is becoming increasingly complex.”
According to the department, managing the Dungeness crab industry while protecting marine life like whales and sea turtles has evolved into a joint effort involving fishers, environmental groups, scientists and agency partners. Over the past five years, the Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear Working Group met almost 150 times. Over 50 risk assessments were performed, along with aerial surveys covering over 20,000 miles of coastline.
Additionally, California has put over $6 million into addressing entanglements, which led to the purchase and installation of electronic monitoring technology for fishery gear. The money also went toward tools to evaluate risk and expand testing of alternative gear.
The next risk assessment by the department, used to determine if delays in the season are warranted, is tentatively set for mid-January.