Whale presence causing the closure of the Dungeness crab season

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has announced that the commercial and recreational Dungeness crab fishing season will end on April 15, nearly three months after it began, due to the presence of whales. This closure affects fishers using vertical fishing lines south of Pigeon Point, including areas like Monterey Bay and Morro Bay.

Fishers with experimental fishing permits (EFPs) for ropeless crab gear will be allowed to use them after the season ends. This spring marks the third season for the use of EFPs.

So far, there has been only one confirmed whale entanglement this season, involving a humpback whale off Monterey Bay. However, Geoff Shester, Oceana’s California campaign director and senior scientist, notes that the actual number of entanglements becomes apparent after the season when whales get caught in gear left behind.

According to CDFW data, in the last three seasons, 33 out of 38 entangled humpback whales were first spotted and entangled after the season had closed.

https://www.montereycountynow.com/blogs/news_blog/the-dungeness-crab-season-is-coming-to-a-close/article_1b23ee6c-2a19-414f-9590-f565b337538e.amp.html