The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is asking for public comments on proposed rule changes to commercial Dungeness crab fishing in an effort to reduce the risk of whale entanglements.
Proposed changes include requiring electronic monitoring for all commercial crab vessels, updated guidelines for approving experimental fishing gear permits, and a modification to commercial crab surface gear allowance. This follows entanglement prevention measures that have already been taken by ODFW, such as moving up the "late-season" Dungeness crab fishing season this year by a month.
According to rulemaking documents by ODFW, electronic monitoring is needed to “improve quality and timeliness of spatial information on commercial Dungeness crab fishing activity,” allowing for real-time assessments on how fishery gear is impacting the species, which is protected in Oregon.
Electronic vessel monitoring also helps fishery managers create better suited, timely legislation and monitor potentially harmful environmental issues like biotoxin management areas, according to the department. ODFW also said the proposed changes could lessen gear theft, crab theft, or fishing in areas that are closed.
ODFW estimated that the per-vessel cost of adding the new electronic vessel monitoring equipment would range from USD 138,241 to USD 186,951 (EUR 121,020 to EUR 163,662). Additional annual subscription costs would total around USD 51,541 (EUR 45,120). However, ODFW added that grant funding will cover the cost of purchasing the equipment, though fishers will be stuck with the tab for the USD 200 (EUR 175) per year subscription cost.
If approved, new equipment would be required by 1 December.
Amending the experimental fishing gear permit rules would help to “establish a more structured program and clearer guidelines for issuing” those permits, according to the department, especially when it comes to alternative gear.
ODFW also said the maximum surface gear amendment could help align rules with outreach materials so fishers can more easily comply and unintentional violations won’t be doled out.
Comments are accepted from now until 24 July, which is three weeks before an 14 August ODFW meeting in Salem, Oregon, where public remote and in-person testimonies will also be considered.
Whales becoming entangled in fishing gear has been the subject of conservation organization pleas for change before in Oregon, most recently in November 2025 when a young humpback whale was forced to be euthanized after entanglement. Following that incident, conservation groups submitted petitions in December 2025 to the ODFW Comission, and the petition was subsequently denied in February 2026. Instead, ODFW said it would propose it's own rule changes, preceding the recent announcement.
