The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will close most of the state’s commercial Dungeness crab fishery on Monday, April 8th. Zones 3, 4, 5, and 6, covering from Sonoma-Mendocino county to the U.S.-Mexico border, will be shut down at 6 p.m. due to the presence of humpback whales, with a 30-fathom depth limit on traps in zones 1 and 2, which span the rest of the coastline north to the Oregon border.
According to CDFW, mid-March aerial and vessel surveys revealed an increase in humpback whale numbers returning to forage off California’s coast, raising the risk of entanglements. The department plans to conduct its next risk assessment in mid-April 2024.
The Dungeness crab season in California has faced delays and early closures in recent years due to environmental factors like low meat fill, domoic acid presence, and concerns over whale entanglements. Despite opening late and facing price disputes with processors, San Francisco fishermen eventually resumed fishing at a rate of USD 3.00 per pound after initially striking for price equivalency with Oregon fishermen who received USD 3.50 per pound.
While California's Dungeness crab fishery is significant, the 2024 season has seen a catch of over 53.7 million pounds on the U.S. West Coast. California crabbers have caught 6,034 metric tons worth USD 45.5 million, Oregon fishermen have caught 10,628 MT worth USD 86.4 million, and Washington crabbers have hauled in 7,763 MT worth USD 64.1 million, as per the Pacific Fisheries Information Network.
The Dungeness crab seasons in Washington and Oregon remain open, with over 100 million pounds of combined landings in 2023, showing a steady increase from previous years.
Source: Cliff White (April 3, 2024). California closing Dungeness crab season to protect humpback whales. Seafood Source. https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/supply-trade/california-closing-dungeness-crab-season-to-protect-humpback-whales
