The state of California has decided to further delay the start of the commercial crab season along a stretch of its Northern coast after detecting elevated levels of domoic acid in the area.
After facing a delay of several weeks due to an abundance of whales off the state’s coast, California has been starting the commercial Dungeness crab season piecemeal as conditions improve in designated fishing zones. Crabbing in the central management area launched 5 January, while the Northern section of the coast was slated to open 15 January.
While most of the Northern area is still set to open on 15 January, California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials have opted to delay the season from the southern boundary of the Reading Rock State Marine Protected Areas to Cape Mendocino. State officials determined Dungeness crab harvested from those waters “pose a human health risk due to elevated levels of domoic acid” and recommended a delay. Domoic acid is a naturally occurring neurotoxin that can accumulate in fish and shellfish without causing illness, but can cause health problems when those fish or shellfish are consumed by humans.
In response, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife has ordered a delay in the designated area until conditions improve.
“The delayed opening of commercial Dungeness crab fishing in this area shall remain in effect until the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, in consultation with the State Public Health Officer of California Department of Public Health (CDPH), determines that domoic acid no longer poses a significant risk to public health,” CDFW said in a release.
Under California’s Fair Start Provision, crabbers who begin harvesting in other areas before the delayed area is opened are prohibited from harvesting in the newly opened area for 30 days.
