CDFW Pronounces Depth Restriction for the Business Dungeness Crab Fishery in Fishing Zones 1 and a couple of and Leisure Crab Lure Prohibition in Zones 3-6 to Shield Humpback Whales
California Division of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director Charlton H. Bonham has assessed entanglement threat beneath the Danger Evaluation Mitigation Program (RAMP) and carried out a 30-fathom depth constraint for Fishing Zones 1 and a couple of (Sonoma/Mendocino county line to the Oregon state line) efficient Could 15, 2023 at 12 p.m. (midday) for the business Dungeness crab fishery. Traps used within the business fishery will probably be prohibited in waters seaward of the 30-fathom contour as outlined in Title 50 of the Federal Codes of Rules, Half 660, Part 660.71. All vessels should additionally carry onboard an digital monitoring system (PDF) able to recording the vessel’s location whereas engaged in fishing exercise utilizing GPS coordinates at a frequency of a minimum of as soon as per minute throughout fishing operations. Digital monitoring information should be made obtainable to CDFW upon request throughout the fishing season and 60 days thereafter.
Leisure crab traps will probably be prohibited in Fishing Zones 3-6 (all areas south of the Sonoma/Mendocino county line) efficient at 12 p.m. (midday) on Could 15, 2023. CDFW reminds leisure crabbers that take of Dungeness crab by different strategies, together with hoop nets and crab snares, continues to be allowed by the shut of the season on June 30, 2023.
These restrictions are being carried out to attenuate entanglement threat for humpback whales as they return to forage off the coast of California. Based mostly on historic migration patterns, CDFW anticipates humpback whales will proceed arriving within the coming weeks and has decided this motion is required to cut back entanglement threat.
Fishing Zones 1 by 6 additionally stay beneath a Fleet Advisory for each the business and leisure Dungeness crab fisheries till the season closes in every Fishing Zone. CDFW reminds all business and leisure fishery members to implement finest practices, as described within the Finest Practices Information (PDF). All anglers needs to be ready to behave rapidly to take away fishing gear from remaining open areas ought to entanglement threat develop into elevated. For extra info associated to the danger evaluation course of, please go to CDFW’s Whale Secure Fisheries web page. For extra info on the Dungeness crab fishery, please go to CDFW’s Crab web page, together with FAQs (PDF) for the 2022-23 business fishing season and a Compliance Information for Digital Monitoring (PDF).
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Media contacts:
Ryan Bartling, CDFW Marine Area, (415) 238-2638
Jordan Traverso, CDFW Communications, (916) 212-7352