October 26, 2025

A Dungeness crab pot. California wildlife officials are delaying the 2026 crabbing season opener until at least Jan.1 to avoid gear entanglement risk to a reported abundance of humpback whales. CDFW image.

California’s commercial Dungeness crab fishery has been delayed past Jan.1, as state officials monitor a reported abundance of humpback whales, gear entanglements and leatherback sea turtles.

“This delay will allow whales and sea turtles to migrate out of California waters prior to the opening of the commercial fishery,” according to an Oct. 24 statement by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

It’s been an annual delay for years, as the state agency and  industry contend with entanglement risk during seasonal migration patterns. DFW officials say “this delay was broadly supported by the Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear Working Group and the Pacific Coast Federation of Fisherman’s Association.”

“Another year of a delayed commercial Dungeness crab season is incredibly difficult for our fleet and port communities. However, given the current risk assessment process, the commercial fleet supported this outcome as the most practical path forward,” said Lisa Damrosch, executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Association, in a joint statement with the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

“Although none of this is easy, we thank CDFW for their responsiveness, which reflects the cooperation that will be essential to meeting the challenges ahead for this fishery and our fleet,” said Damrosch.

Fishermen working with state officials and environmental groups are testing so-called “pop-up” gear to reduce the annual gear conflicts.

Conducted under a California Experimental Fishing Permit (EFP), the spring 2025 trials involved 12 commercial crab fishermen operating out of ports from Morro Bay to Crescent City. The project tested ropeless “on-demand” gear developed by Sub Sea Sonics and Guardian Ropeless Systems, which eliminates vertical lines in the water column by keeping lines and buoys stored with the traps until activated by an acoustic signal.

The latest season delay was required under new state regulations, “that went into effect this week that postpone the season opener until the following year if three or more humpback whales are confirmed entangled in crab gear in a calendar year,” the environmental group Oceana noted. “So far four humpback whales have been confirmed entangled in California Dungeness crab gear this year. Another four humpback whales were confirmed to be entangled in unknown gear that may be California Dungeness crab gear.”

As in past years, a new risk assessment planned in mid-December could set the stage for a commercial fishery opening, possibly around the New Year – traditionally a good market with high consumer demand for Dungeness.

Those deliberations will also determine if recreational trap restrictions can be lifted. California state health agencies that Dungeness crab in northern California waters have unhealthy levels of domoic acid, and called for delaying the opening of the recreational fishery in state waters from the California/Oregon border south to the Sonoma/Mendocino county line.