After multiple delays due to the presence of humpback whales in the area, California has announced that the southern portion of the state will open its commercial Dungeness crab season 5 January 2025.
However, state regulators are enacting a 50 percent trap reduction for the open areas, and the two northernmost fishing zones will remain closed through 15 January.
“Making the decision on when to open the Dungeness crab fishery is never an easy one. It requires careful consideration of the need to protect endangered species while sustaining the livelihood of California’s fishing communities,” California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director Charlton Bonham said in a statement. “My action today strikes a balance between the needs of the fishery and the needs of California’s marine species. Reducing the number of traps in the water is ...
