California Delays Commercial Crab Season to Protect Whales From Entanglement

The commercial crab fishing season along most of California’s coast will be delayed this year to protect humpback whales from entanglement, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife announced on Oct. 25. Originally scheduled to open on Nov. 15 from Bodega Bay to Southern California, the season will now be delayed until at least December to assess whale populations. This marks the sixth consecutive year that the opening of commercial crab fishing in Central and Southern California has been postponed due to the risk to whales. Currently, there are multiple whales entangled in Monterey Bay, which is truly heart-wrenching. Wildlife experts have confirmed that between May and Oct. 21, four humpback whales were caught in crab gear in California, while 10 others were entangled in unknown fishing gear. Despite efforts to reduce these incidents by closing crab fishing areas and shortening the fishing season, whales continue to suffer and die. The Department of Fish and Wildlife is working on new regulations for the crab fishery, but some measures to prevent whale entanglement are being weakened or delayed. It is crucial to take more decisive action to protect whales in California’s crab fishery.

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