California Delays Commercial Dungeness Crab Season Again to Safeguard Whales

California Fish and Wildlife announced the launch of commercial Dungeness crab season has been postponed to prevent humpback whales from getting entangled in trap and buoy lines.

This marks the latest postponement of the commercial season’s start, which usually begins in mid-November for waters ranging from the Mendocino County line to the Mexican border.

Meanwhile the recreational take of Dungeness crab using traps will be temporarily restricted in some areas when the recreational season opens Nov. 2, officials said. Recreational crabbers will be able to use other methods, including hoop nets and crab snares.

The commercial crab industry is one of California’s major fisheries, with the shellfish being particularly popular during the holiday season.

Humpback whales, which migrate north annually from Mexico’s Baja California peninsula to give birth, can become entangled in the vertical ropes of heavy commercial traps, leading to injury, starvation or exhaustion that may result in drowning.

CDFW anticipates the next risk assessment will take place on or around Nov. 15. That is expected to inform the potential for a statewide commercial fishery opener on Dec. 1.

For more information related to the risk assessment process, go to CDFW’s Whale Safe Fisheries page.

Associated Press contributed to this article.