The CDFW Director will conduct an assessment of marine life entanglement risk for the commercial Dungeness crab fishery on or around May 17, 2024, using the Risk Assessment and Mitigation Program (RAMP). In addition, regulations adopted by the California Fish and Game Commission provide the Director authority to apply management actions to the recreational crab fishery to minimize entanglement risk informed by RAMP.
The California Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear Working Group will meet on May 16, 2024, to review Available Data and CDFW’s Preliminary Assessment. The Director will consider all data made available to CDFW prior to determining the appropriate management action to minimize entanglement risk. All materials will be posted on the Whale Safe Fisheries webpage as they become available.
Additional updates will be made available once the Director has made a determination through this listserv.