Commercial fishermen express frustration with late open to Dungeness crab season
Last week, commercial Dungeness crab fishery began in Humboldt County. On Wednesday, Jan.15, after a 10-day delay, the season opened throughout the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) Northern Management Area, a region spanning from the coast of Sonoma County to the Oregon border. Many commercial fishermen in Humboldt County expressed frustration with the wait — and with these types of delays becoming a perennial problem. They say frequent delays to the opening of a crabbing season that once relied on December holiday sales have left fishermen feeling squeezed. “The biggest downhill path for our fishery began five years ago when the state of California, in their lack of defense of the most lucrative fishery on the California coast, settled a lawsuit with the Center for Biological Diversity,” Rotwein said. “We’re on a trajectory to … being regulated out of business. Economically, I don’t know if the fleet can survive … Every single year since then has been something — a season delay, season closure.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:15
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