The California Fish and Wildlife Department has ordered another delay in the commercial Dungeness crab fishing season — the second so far this year.
The risk of whales becoming tangled in crab fishing gear remains high for most of the coastal waters from the Mendocino County line south to the Mexican border, director Charlton H. Bonham announced Thursday.
The postponement allows more time for the whales’ safe passage to their winter breeding grounds.
In the far north, where crabbing was supposed to be allowed starting Dec. 1, there’s a second issue: Tests on crab meat quality could not be conducted because of high levels of domoic acid found in the samples collected.
Domoic acid, a toxin that could sicken anyone who eats the tainted crab, destroyed Northern California’s 2015-2016 commercial season and created delays in other years.
Scientist Geoff Shester, Oceana’s California campaign director and a member of the state’s advisory group, praised the continued restrictions, noting that all stakeholders are rattled by the number of whale entanglements this year. Four confirmed cases involved whales getting tangled in commercial equipment, and leftover gear is suspected in several other cases.
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The next assessment will take place on or around Dec. 6. The earliest that commercial crabbing could begin in the far north would be Dec. 15, state officials said.
Shester said he thinks it’s doubtful that the fishing industry and consumers will see the commercial crab season open before New Year’s.