The eagerly anticipated Dungeness crab season in California has been postponed once again, disappointing seafood enthusiasts and local fishermen alike. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced that the commercial crab fishing season, originally scheduled to begin on November 15, will be delayed due to an unusually high number of humpback whales in the area.
This marks the sixth consecutive year that the Bay Area's commercial Dungeness crab season has been postponed, primarily due to concerns about whale entanglements in fishing gear. The decision affects the coastal waters from the Sonoma/Mendocino County line south to the Mexican border.
The delay comes as a result of recent observations indicating a "high abundance" of humpback whales in the region. According to reports from Oceana, a nonprofit conservation group, four humpback whales were confirmed entangled in California commercial Dungeness crab fishing gear between May and October 21 this year. An additional ten whales were observed entangled in unidentified fishing gear that could potentially be Dungeness crab-related.
While the commercial season faces a setback, recreational crabbers will still be able to begin their season on November 2, albeit with restrictions. The use of trap gear will be prohibited, limiting recreational crabbers to hoop nets and crab snares only.
The repeated delays in recent years have sparked frustration among crab fishermen who rely on the holiday season for a substantial portion of their annual income. Kenny Belov, co-owner of Fish Restaurant in Sausalito and overseer of two Dungeness crab boats, expressed disappointment, noting that local Thanksgiving crab has become a fading tradition due to consistent delays.
Conservation groups are advocating for a transition to safer fishing methods, such as rope-less or pop-up gear, which could potentially allow fishing to proceed while minimizing risks to migrating whales. Ben Grundy, an oceans campaigner at the Center for Biological Diversity, emphasized that if the state had authorized the use of pop-up gear, which has shown promise in tests, "crab fishers could be prepping to put their traps in the water right now."
The CDFW plans to conduct another risk assessment around November 15, with the possibility of opening the fishing season on December 1. However, this timeline means that locally-caught Dungeness crab will not be available for Thanksgiving dinners this year.
As the situation continues to evolve, both the fishing industry and wildlife conservationists are seeking solutions that balance the economic needs of local fishermen with the protection of marine life. The ongoing challenges highlight the complex interplay between commercial fishing practices and environmental conservation efforts in California's coastal waters.