Courtesy of SeafoodNews.com:
Welcome to spring, when the winds start to change, the rain lessens and the whales start to move north into California waters.
That also means a greater risk for whale entanglements in Dungeness crab gear.
But for now, crabbers can still go fishing, according to an assessment last week by California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Charlton H. Bonham. Bonham determined the fishery can continue with a 50 percent gear reduction in fishing zones 36 (Mendocino/Sonoma county line south to the border with Mexico) for the commercial fishery and continuation of a Fleet Advisory for all fishing zones.
But that determination came with a warning: “As humpback whale arrivals are expected to increase in the coming weeks, the recreational and commercial fleet should anticipate modifications to existing Management Actions (including potential fishing zone closures) at the next Risk Assessment,” the CDFW announcement said.
The Risk Assessment and Management Program documents noted that fishing effort has decreased over the past month. the total California landings equal 12.5 million pounds for a total ex-vessel value of more than $41 million and an average ex-vessel price of $3.35.
The California Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear Working Group reviewed the CDFW preliminary report and, on March 12, provided recommendations to the agency. One recommendation, broadly opposed, was to announce the closure of the fisheries on April 1 to be precautionary as whales start to move north. Additionally, the long lead time would give fishermen time to get their gear out of the water more effectively, the Working Group recommendation said. Ultimately, that recommendation was not accepted.
The other three Working Group recommendations related to depth restrictions. A second recommendation, also with only limited support and broad opposition, was to mandate a depth restriction in Northern California, Zones 1 and 2, and close the fishery in the other zones. Similarly, a third recommendation to institute a depth restriction in all zones gained only limited support and limited opposition. The last recommendation, also with only limited support and limited opposition, would have implemented a depth restriction only in Central and Southern California (Zones 3-6). However, none of the recommendations were accepted.
The next scheduled risk assessment is expected to occur on or around Mar. 29, 2024, according to CDFW; more information will be posted online at CDFW’s Whale Safe Fisheries webpage.