dungeness – Fishermens News

Calif. Closes Dungeness Crab Fisheries Early to Minimize Humpback Whale Entanglements

3Apr

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Calif. Closes Dungeness Crab Fisheries Early to Minimize Humpback Whale Entanglements

Aerial and vessel surveys showing that humpback whale numbers are rising as they return to forage off the California coast have prompted the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to close commercial and recreational Dungeness crab fisheries, effective April 8. CDFW, which made the announcement on March 28, said the closures will be effective in Fishing Zones 3, 4, 5 and 6, from the Sonoma/Mendocino County line to the U.S.-Mexico border, plus a 30-fathom depth constraint for commercial Dungeness crab fisheries in Zones 1 and 2, from the Sonoma/Mendocino County line to the Oregon border. Traps used by commercial fishers in Zones 1 and 2 will be prohibited in waters seaward of the 30-fathomn contour. A recreational crab trap prohibition is also being implemented in Zones...

Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery Begins Feb. 1 North of Cape Falcon, Ore.

10Jan

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Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery Begins Feb. 1 North of Cape Falcon, Ore.

Oregon’s Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) has announced the Feb. 1 opener of a commercial Dungeness crab fishing period from Cape Falcon to Klipsan Beach, Wash. Officials said a fourth round of pre-season testing showed that male crabs in this area were not quite ready for a January opening. The additional time is expected to allow crab to continue to fill with meat before harvest, they said. Oregon’s ocean commercial Dungeness crab season, targeted to open Dec. 1, can be delayed or partially opened so consumers get a high-quality product and crabs aren’t wasted. This year’s season was partially opened (from Cape Foulweather to the California border) on Dec. 16, after a delay due to low meat yield in areas north of Cape Foulweather. Commercial crabbing began Dec. 31 from...

CDFW Schedules Risk Assessment Update on Marine Life Entanglement

6Dec

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CDFW Schedules Risk Assessment Update on Marine Life Entanglement

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) on Monday announced plans for an assessment on or about Friday, Dec. 8 to determine the marine life entanglement risk for the commercial Dungeness crab fishery. In addition, regulations adopted by the California Fish and Game Commission will allow CDFW director Chuck Bonham the authority to apply management actions to the recreational crab fishery to minimize entanglement risk informed by the state’s Risk Assessment and Mitigation Program (RAMP). The California Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear Working Group is to meet Dec. 6 to review available data and CDFW’s preliminary assessment, after which Bonham is to consider all data available to CDFW prior to determining the appropriate management action to minimize entanglement risk. ...

Humpback Whale Sightings Delay Calif. Dungeness Crab Season

22Nov

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Humpback Whale Sightings Delay Calif. Dungeness Crab Season

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has announced that due to increased concentrations of blue and humpback whales in fishing areas, a delay in commercial fishing for Dungeness crab in Fishing Zones 1 and 2 has been instituted. Also announced on Nov. 17 was that the season delay in Fishing Zones 3-6 remains in effect. Restrictions are also being continued for crab traps in the recreational crab fishery in several fishing zones. CDFW officials said the next scheduled risk assessment is expected on or about Dec. 7 or 8. In a separate statement also issued on Nov. 17, the international ocean conservation group Oceana said the delay in the Dungeness crab fishing season was aimed at protecting whales, but also due to poor crab meat quality in northern California’s Fishin...

CDFW Delays Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery Season Opener

1Nov

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CDFW Delays Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery Season Opener

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has said that it expects an assessment by Nov. 17 re-evaluating risks to humpback whales in the area of a Dungeness crab fishery before setting a new date for the fishery opener, which was previously set for Nov. 15. For now, the opening date of the Dungeness crab fishery south of the Sonoma-Mendocino County line remains uncertain. According to CDFW, the risk assessment is expected to inform the potential for a statewide commercial fishery opener on Dec. 1 and the potential as well to modify the recreational trap restriction. The commercial Dungeness crab fishery south of the Sonoma-Mendocino County line had been scheduled to open Nov. 15 in fishing Zones 3, 4, 5, and 6. CDFW also announced a temporary crab trap restriction in the re...

10May

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ODFW Issues Fleet Advisory for Dungeness Crab Fishery to Protect Whales

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife officials have issued a fleet advisory for commercial Dungeness crab harvesters through May 31, urging vigilance to avoid setting gear in area where humpback whales are transiting or foraging to further minimize risk of entanglement. ODFW is anticipating an above average crab harvest in May, based on the high volume of late-season tag purchases. Meanwhile, surveys conducted in Oregon waters from April 13 through April 25 observed scattered humpbacks and other large whales in waters deeper than 270 fathoms, primarily in the southern region from Newport to the Oregon-California border. However one aggregation of about 30 to 50 humpbacks was observed within 40 fathoms, just outside the Columbia River mouth. Due to ocean dynamics and the rapid movem...

Processors, Crab Commission Say Dungeness Crab is Perfect for Valentine’s Day

8Feb

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Processors, Crab Commission Say Dungeness Crab is Perfect for Valentine’s Day

Forget the flowers and candy. Oregon seafood processors and the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission say the perfect gift for your Valentine on Feb. 14 is fresh Dungeness crab. Their advice: get that Dungeness crab for you and the special people in your life for an exceptional dinner at home. The alternative: order your crab right off the menu at your favorite local restaurant. And, says Tim Novotny, executive director of the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission, you’ll also be showing you care about your own heart health. “A three-ounce portion of cooked crab yields 19 grams of protein and contains important minerals and amino acids, including Omega-1, proven to lower blood pressure, strengthen immunity and even improve arthritis symptoms,” Novotny said. The start of the season always featu...

Southern Oregon Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery to Open

1Feb

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Southern Oregon Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery to Open

The remaining southern portion of Oregon’s coastline commercial Dungeness crab fishery, from Cape Arago, just south of Charleston, to the California border, is expected to open for harvesting on Saturday, Feb. 4th. The earliest a crab season may begin is Dec. 1, pending meat fill and biotoxin results. Officials with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) said this year the season opener was delayed due to crab in some areas with low meat fill or high domoic acid levels in crab viscera. The season opened on Jan. 15 from Cape Falcon to Cape Arago and is expected to open Feb. 1 from Cape Falcon to the Washington border. According to ODFW, the meat fill is now excellent statewide, yet domoic acid remains elevated in some portions of the southern coast. To ensure a good produc...

11Jan

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Jan. 15 Opener Set for Oregon’s Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) officials say they expect the state’s Commercial Dungeness crab fishery season to open from Cape Falcon to Cape Arago on Jan. 15, having passed required tests for those crabs being ready to harvest. The season opener from Cape Falcon north to Washington state, in accordance with the Tri-State protocol, is scheduled to open Feb. 1. ODFW officials said this past week that meat fill now meets or exceeds criteria in all areas of Oregon, and biotoxins are below alert levels in all crab tested from Cape Arago north. Domoic acid testing of crab was to continue from Cape Arago south to the California border. Test results through Jan. 7 showed elevated levels of the biotoxin in that area. ODFW works closely with the crab industry, the Oregon Dungen...

California Fish and Wildlife Schedules Marine Life Entanglement Risk Assessment

21Dec

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California Fish and Wildlife Schedules Marine Life Entanglement Risk Assessment

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 commer...