Tag Archives: Dungeness crab fleet

New rules for California Dungeness crab fleet

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife on Friday unveiled a batch of complex new rules designed to reduce the risk to endangered whales and sea turtles of becoming entangled in commercial Dungeness crab fishing gear. The draft regulations are set to be finalized before the next commercial season starts in November after a period of public review. Among the provisions are options to restrict fishing in certain depths, require crabbers to set only a share of the traps for which they’re permitted or limit intervention to any of six newly established geographic zones, rather than the larger Northern and Central California management districts that currently exist. >click to read< 09:14

Dungeness crab fleet readies for opener as weather hampers season start for some

A monthlong delay in the opening of the Dungeness season will conclude this weekend, allowing the commercial fleet to get out on the water and start pulling in traps on Sunday.,,, many small-boat captains in the North Bay plan to wait even longer for ocean conditions to calm, so it’s safer to deploy their heavy fishing equipment. “It’s day by day,” veteran Bodega Bay fisherman Tony Anello said. 17 Photos, >click to read< 15:20

Coast Guard, Oregon and Washington state wildlife officials monitor Dungeness crab fleet to ensure safety, enforce laws

The Coast Guard is teaming with Oregon and Washington state authorities to monitor the commercial crab fishing fleet across the Oregon and Washington coasts to ensure safety and enforce the laws and regulations associated with the opening of the Dungeness crab season. The Dungeness crab fishery officially opened Dec. 15 for pre-soak south of Cape Blanco and Oregon and Washington respectively set an opening at 9 a.m. Jan. 1 for commercial crabbing from Cape Blanco north to Klipsan Beach, Wash., and north of Klipsan Beach to Queets River, Wash., at 9 a.m. Jan. 7. Coast Guard aircraft have conducted numerous over-flights of Oregon crab fishing grounds to monitor the pre-soak and the opening in southern Oregon. The Coast Guard will expand patrols up the Oregon and Washington coasts as the season opens in all areas. These efforts assist Oregon and Washington state fish and wildlife officials monitor the state regulated fishery while enhancing Coast Guard search and rescue capabilities. Read the rest here 09:50