Northern Calif Dungeness Crab Fishery to Close as Humpback is Entangled off Eureka
Excessive Whale Entanglements Highlight Need for Fixed Winter Season Dates for Conventional Crab Gear, with Approval of Pop-up Fishing Gear for the Spring Fishery
Press Release Date: June 13, 2025
Location: SACRAMENTO, CALIF
Contact:
Ashley Blacow | email: ablacow@oceana.org | tel: 1.831.643.9220
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (Department) announced today it will close the commercial Dungeness crab fishery from the Sonoma/Mendocino County line to the Oregon/ California border (fishing zones 1 and 2) effective June 20. The determination ends the crabbing season off northern California for conventional gear that uses vertical lines connecting a surface buoy and trap on the seafloor. The announcement comes in response to a juvenile humpback whale the Department confirmed is entangled in commercial crab gear off Humboldt County.
On June 7, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Division reported an entangled juvenile humpback whale six miles northwest of Eureka. The whale is entangled in two sets of California Dungeness crab fishing gear. The Department reports one set of buoys is immediately near the tail and another set is being dragged and submerged approximately 50 yards behind the whale. So far, state and federal attempts to free the whale have not succeeded. This latest entanglement follows four other humpback whale entanglements that have occurred off California since March, at least two of which were confirmed to be in commercial California Dungeness crab gear.
The commercial Dungeness crab fishery is already closed to conventional gear in zones 3-6, south of Pt Arena at the Sonoma/Mendocino County border. Eighteen fishermen off the Central Coast are using alternative pop-up gear under experimental fishing permits to catch crab through June 30.
Oceana and the Natural Resources Defense Council are calling on the Department to create a shorter, fixed winter season for conventional crabbing gear to protect whales. The groups issued the following response:
“This unfortunate news of another humpback whale entangled in Dungeness crab gear dispels the narrative that whales don’t get entangled off Northern California,” said Caitlynn Birch, Campaign Manager and Marine Scientist with Oceana. “It is time to learn from these tragic entanglements, many of which could have been avoided. California must create a new management system where a fixed short winter season using vertical lines is followed by a springtime transition to successfully proven pop-up gear that keeps fishermen on the water while avoiding whales.”
“The distressing entanglement of a young whale off northern California underscores the urgent need for more protective measures and expanding the use of pop-up fishing gear,” said Dr. Francine Kershaw, Senior Scientist with the NRDC. “Pop-up fishing gear can allow whales and fishers to safely coexist and create a whale-safe seafood choice for Californians.”
Background:
Confirmed whale entanglements off the West Coast reached a six-year high in 2024, including four whales that were confirmed entangled in California Dungeness crab gear and another thirteen entangled in unknown gear. Fishing gear involved in entanglements is often unknown due to insufficient unique gear markings.
The California Dungeness crab fishery has entangled threatened and endangered humpback whales at an alarming rate that exceeds federally allowable limits. The entanglements may prevent the fishery from obtaining an Incidental Take Permit which is required under the Endangered Species Act.
While the Department is proposing revisions to its current regulations, the changes do not go far enough to prevent entanglements. Over the past decade, conservation groups, fishermen, scientists, fishery managers, and funding agencies have worked together to develop solutions to prevent whale and sea turtle entanglements. However, this most recent entanglement indicates more needs to be done, and quickly.
Pop-up fishing gear is already a proven viable way to prevent whale and sea turtle entanglements while allowing for crabbing. Pop-up gear stores the rope and buoy with the trap on the seafloor until fishermen are ready to retrieve the gear. Trials over the past three spring fishing seasons have demonstrated the success of technical gear innovations—thanks to participating fishermen and gear manufacturers—that are reliable, enforceable, and profitable, while avoiding gear conflict.
Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana is rebuilding abundant and biodiverse oceans by winning science-based policies in countries that control one-quarter of the world’s wild fish catch. With more than 325 victories that stop overfishing, habitat destruction, oil and plastic pollution, and the killing of threatened species like turtles, whales, and sharks, Oceana’s campaigns are delivering results. A restored ocean means that 1 billion people can enjoy a healthy seafood meal every day, forever. Together, we can save the oceans and help feed the world. Visit Oceana.org to learn more.
NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).
