Recreational Crab Traps Restricted in Central Management Area to Protect Whales from Entanglement while Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishing Opportunities Continue
[Image from CDFW]
California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director Meghan Hertel has assessed entanglement risk under the Risk Assessment Mitigation Program (RAMP) and announced a crab trap restriction in the recreationa
l Dungeness crab fishery in Fishing Zone 3 (Sonoma/Mendocino County Line, 38°46.125′ N. Latitude to Pigeon Point, 37°11′ N. Latitude). This change, which will go into effect at 6 p.m. on May 22, 2026, is intended to minimize entanglement risk as humpback whales return to forage off the coast of California. A crab trap restriction was implemented in Fishing Zones 4 and 5 (Pigeon Point to Point Conception, 34°27′ N Latitude) on March 27, 2026. CDFW reminds recreational crabbers that take of Dungeness crab by other methods (including hoop nets and crab snares) is allowed through the close of the season. All open Fishing Zones remain under a Fleet Advisory for the recreational Dungeness crab fishery. CDFW also reminds all fishery participants to implement best practices as described in the Best Practices Guide.
The commercial fishery remains open in Fishing Zones 1 and 2 (California/Oregon
border to the Sonoma/Mendocino County line) under existing trap reductions and depth constraints. Fishing Zones 3-5 (Sonoma/Mendocino County line to Point Conception) have transitioned to use of authorized Alternative Gear (aka Pop-Up gear) through the remainder of the season. CDFW anticipates the next risk assessment will take place in early June 2026. For more information related to the risk assessment process, please visit CDFW’s Whale Safe Fisheries page. For more information on the Dungeness crab fishery, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/crab.
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Maybe set up a ‘Whale Free Zone’ for crabbers and wind turbines? Could be a win, win, win.
I wish the CDFW would make up their mind where you can place your crab traps. Personal traps have restricted areas, but commercial crabbers can place their traps where they want to. I realize the commercial guy’s fish in various depths of water, but still get whales entangled in their ropes.
>”Personal traps have restricted areas, but commercial crabbers can place their traps where they want to”
Restricted areas: Mouth of Eel, Humboldt Bay, Trinidad, Bodega Bay.
Recreational crabbers can use hoop nets and crab snares any place through the close of the season.
Hoop nets are meant for throwing of a dock or the jetty not places your going to find many whales. Rings is what we called them two rings held by chain mail or nylon net it lays flat on the bottom with bait and the crabs come. You pull it up fast and the sides of the trap come up trapping the crap. You can catch quite a few in humvodt Bay. We’ll you could 30 yrs ago.