The U.S. state of Oregon is considering a handful of new restrictions on Dungeness crab fishermen – including a 20 percent reduction in pot limits – to reduce the risk of wildlife becoming entangled in crabbing gear.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is planning to host a meeting in Salem, Oregon, U.S.A. on 4 August to discuss the changes and evaluate the effectiveness of previously adopted measures.
The department is considering a slate of new risk reduction actions, including:
- A 20 percent reduction in the pot limits across all permits;
- Requiring an additional late-season buoy tag starting 1 May;
- Prohibiting commercial crabbing outside of 40 fathoms starting 1 May; and
- Restricting the amount of surface gear.