After a delay to the season opener due to elevated levels of domoic acid, the recreational Dungeness crab fishery opened today in Del Norte and Mendocino counties and part of Humboldt County, though trap restrictions remain in place due to elevated entanglement risk.

State health agencies determined that Dungeness crab in waters from the California/Oregon border (42° 0.0' N. latitude) to the southern boundary of the Reading Rock Marine Protected Areas (41° 17.6’ N latitude) and from Cape Mendocino (40° 10.0’ N. latitude) to the Sonoma/Mendocino County line (38° 46.125’ N. latitude) can open with some areas under a health advisory issued by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Under a health advisory, the CDPH recommends to not eat crab viscera (also known as guts) and to clean crab prior to cooking.

Following the recommendation from state health agencies, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director Charlton H. Bonham declared the recreational Dungeness crab fishery open in Del Norte County, Mendocino County, and parts of Humboldt County. The remaining area within Humboldt County continues to be closed due to elevated levels of domoic acid.

Testing of Dungeness crab will continue to determine when the fishery can safely reopen. Domoic acid testing is a coordinated effort between fishery participants, CDPH and CDFW.

Based on the last whale and sea turtle entanglement risk assessment, Director Bonham declared a trap restriction in the northernmost part of the state. Therefore, only hoop nets or crab snares may be used in this area (California/Oregon border to the southern boundary of the Reading Rock Marine Protected Areas). Anglers may use crab traps from Cape Mendocino to the Sonoma/Mendocino County line. A crab trap restriction also remains in effect from the Sonoma/Mendocino County line to Lopez Point, in addition to a Fleet Advisory in all areas.

The commercial Dungeness crab season remains delayed due to entanglement risk, elevated levels of domoic acid and crab quality testing. Entanglement risk will be reevaluated next week to inform a possible opening of the commercial fishery around the New Year and possible lifting of the recreational trap restrictions.

For more information related to the risk assessment process, please visit CDFW’s Whale Safe Fisheries page. For more information on the Dungeness crab fishery, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/crab. For the latest information on domoic acid, health advisories and season closures, please see the following: 

CDFW: 

** Fishery closure information and health advisories page 
** Domoic Acid Fishery Closure Information Line: (831) 649-2883 

CDPH: 

** Domoic Acid results website (subsection Analytical Data – Crabs) 
** Shellfish advisories web page for latest consumption warnings
** Biotoxin information Line: (510) 412-4643 or (800) 553-4133