Pop-Up Fishing Gear in California’s Spring Dungeness Crab Fishery Is a Global Model of Innovation for Restoring Fishing Opportunities While Preventing Whale Entanglements
California on Track to Authorize Springtime Ropeless Fishing Gear Fleetwide
Press Release Date: July 31, 2025
Location: MONTEREY, CALIF
Contact:
Ashley Blacow | email: ablacow@oceana.org | tel: 1.831.643.9220
The most successful trial of pop-up fishing gear on the U.S. West Coast to date proved profitable for fishermen and safe for whales, according to newly released results. The pop-up fishing gear (also called “ropeless” or “on-demand”) tested by 12 commercial California Dungeness crab fishermen from Morro Bay to Crescent City brought in $1.4M of crab in spring 2025. At the same time the waters off central California were closed to conventional crab gear to prevent whale entanglements.
This spring’s pop-up gear testing is the third consecutive year of trials under a state Experimental Fishing Permit, with the 2024 and 2025 gear trials being the largest and most successful ever off the West Coast. This spring’s pop-up gear testing surpassed the 2024 spring testing results with respect to the number of pop-up gear traps set and the value of crab landed per vessel. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is in the process of finalizing new regulations, and currently on track to approve pop-up gear as alternative gear beginning in Spring 2026.
Dr. Geoff Shester, Oceana’s California campaign director and senior scientist, and a member of the California Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear Working Group, issued the following statement in response:
“The results of this spring’s pop-up gear testing are nothing less than wildly successful. Even with a vast increase in the amount of gear each fisherman was allowed to use, not a single string of fishing gear was lost. This world-class testing proves once again that this innovative fishing gear is successful, profitable, enforceable, whale-safe, and ready to restore a vibrant spring crab fishery. Oceana applauds all the fishermen who have devoted their time and expertise in advancing pop-up gear trials, investing in the future of California’s Dungeness crab fishery and the protection of whales. Thanks to the commitment by gear manufactures, law enforcement, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Fish and Game Commission, and Ocean Protection Council, California is poised to lead the nation in an approach to expand fishing opportunities while preventing whale entanglements. We commend California fishery managers for their commitment to ensure pop-up gear is authorized for use by all commercial crabbers starting next spring.”
- For more details about the pop-up fishing gear trials please see this statement from the gear manufacturers (Sub Sea Sonics and Guardian Ropeless Systems) and fishermen.
- An infographic highlighting the key results of the spring 2025 ropeless trial can be accessed here.
- B-roll video footage of pop-up gear in action during the 2025 testing is available here.
- To learn more about Oceana’s campaign for whale safe oceans please visit www.oceana.org/WhaleSafeOceans
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.
