The bad news: The San Francisco and Bodega Bay Thanksgiving crab feast won’t happen this year. Crabbers and processors will have to wait until Dec. 15, at least, before bringing crab to the market. The good news: it appears domoic acid won’t create another delay.
Based on updated information and in response to concerns from the commercial Dungeness crab fleet, including written requests from Port Associations to further delay the Central California or “San Francisco” season, California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Charlton H. Bonham said Wednesday he intends to further delay the start date for the California Dungeness crab fishery south of the Mendocino/Sonoma county line.
Bonham issued a preliminary determination Wednesday that the Nov. 22 start date poses a significant risk of marine life entanglement. The anticipated management response is a further delay of the opening of the commercial Dungeness crab fishery in that area until Dec. 15, 2019.
An arerial survey conducted by CDFW within the Greater Farallones and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuaries on Monday, Nov. 18, showed whales throughout the survey area with concentrations foraging in depths between 30 and 50 fathoms off Point Reyes and Half Moon Bay. CDFW is working to schedule a follow up aerial reconnaissance flight to further evaluate whale presence in advance of Dec. 15 and will convene the California Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear Working Group the first week of December to conduct a risk evaluation, CDFW said in a press release.
Under the authority of Fish and Game Code, the Director may restrict take of commercial Dungeness crab if there is a significant risk of marine life entanglement due to fishing gear.
The agency said Director Bonham will consider any recommendations or new information provided by 4:45 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22. Anyone with recommendations and information related to this preliminary determination should submit it to whalesafefisheries@wildlife.ca.gov by that deadline.
CDFW, the fleet and the interested stakeholders are still at the start of an emerging effort to implement real-time decision-making processes. In the 24 hours prior to yesterday’s announcement, CDFW was engaged in real-time discussion and decision making, responding to industry requests for further delay.
“Everyone recognizes the risks and all are committed to addressing that risk and developing the tools to assess and manage risk with more refinement,” CDFW said in the press release. “CDFW is committed to continuing to evaluate information as it is available in real-time to ensure that restrictions on the fishery are lifted as expeditiously as possible,” the agency said.
In related news, CDFW’s press release said California Department of Public Health test results Wednesday show there is no longer a public health concern regarding the safety of crab from the Mendocino/Sonoma county line to the California/Mexico border.
Source: SeafoodNews.com