California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) plans to assess marine life entanglement risk for the commercial Dungeness crab fishery on or around Thursday, Dec. 22, using the Rick Assessment and Mitigation Program (RAMP).
In addition, regulations adopted by the California Fish and Game Commission provide the CDFW director with authority to apply management actions to the recreational crab fishery to minimize entanglement risk informed by RAMP.
CDFW officials noted that the California Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear Working Group was to meet Tuesday, Dec. 20 to review available data and CDFW’s assessment and management proposals. The department was then to consider all data made available to CDFW prior to determining whether the management actions currently in place to delay the commercial Dungeness crab fishery and recreational trap restriction in Fishing Zones 3-6 should be modified.
Plans are that all materials be posted on the Whale Safe Fisheries webpage when available.