ODFW Issues Fleet Advisory to Avoid Whale Entanglement
Oregon fisheries officials faced with another humpback whale entangled in multiple sets of commercial crab gear have issued a fleet advisory for the Dungeness crab fishery in all waters off the Oregon coast to avoid setting gear where whales are transiting or foraging.
The advisory, issued Jan. 30, became effective immediately.
The latest entanglement comes in the wake of a record four entanglements, involving three humpback whales and one fin whale, attributed to Oregon commercial crab gear in 2024.
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife officials reminded the fleet of crab fishing best practices to help reduce the risk of entanglements at all times, but especially when entanglement risk is elevated during times of higher crabbing effort or when higher numbers of humpback wha...