**Recreational Crab Traps Restricted in Central Management Area to Protect Whales from Entanglement while Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishing Opportunities Continue**
News Archive
Media Contact
Contact an Information Officer
Related News Feeds
Subscribe
Subscribe to CDFW News releases via email or text.*
*Accredited media representatives should contact an Information Officer to be placed on CDFW's media list.
Follow Us
Follow on Facebook(external link)
Follow on Instagram(external link)
Search News
News Releases, 2022-Present
Recreational Crab Traps Restricted in Central Management Area to Protect Whales from Entanglement while Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishing Opportunities Continue
- May 15, 2026
California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director Meghan Hertel has assessed entanglement risk under the Risk Assessment Mitigation Program (RAMP) and announced a crab trap restriction in the recreational Dungeness crab fishery (PDF)(external link) in Fishing Zone 3 (Sonoma/Mendocino County Line, 38°46.125' N. Latitude to Pigeon Point, 37°11' N. Latitude). This change, which will go into effect at 6 p.m. on May 22, 2026, is intended to minimize entanglement risk as humpback whales return to forage off the coast of California.
A crab trap restriction was implemented in Fishing Zones 4 and 5 (Pigeon Point to Point Conception, 34°27' N Latitude) on March 27, 2026. CDFW reminds recreational crabbers that take of Dungeness crab by other methods (including hoop nets and crab snares) is allowed through the close of the season. All open Fishing Zones remain under a Fleet Advisory for the recreational Dungeness crab fishery. CDFW also reminds all fishery participants to implement best practices as described in the Best Practices Guide (PDF)(external link).
The commercial fishery remains open in Fishing Zones 1 and 2 (California/Oregon border to the Sonoma/Mendocino County line) under existing trap reductions and depth constraints. Fishing Zones 3-5 (Sonoma/Mendocino County line to Point Conception) have transitioned to use of authorized Alternative Gear (aka Pop-Up gear) through the remainder of the season.
CDFW anticipates the next risk assessment will take place in early June 2026. For more information related to the risk assessment process, please visit CDFW’s Whale Safe Fisheries page(external link). For more information on the Dungeness crab fishery, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/crab(external link).
Media Contacts:
Ryan Bartling, CDFW Marine Region, (415) 238-2638
Steve Gonzalez, CDFW Communications, (916) 804-1714
Categories: Dungeness Crab, Fishing, Marine
Tagged: crab fishing dungeness crab California fishing California Crab crab season
Office of Communications, Education and Outreach
P.O. Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94244-2090
(916) 322-8911