The recreational fishery for Dungeness crab is open in the portion of northern California. Courtesy photo

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - The recreational fishery for Dungeness crab is open in the portion of northern California that was delayed due to a public health hazard.

State health agencies determined that consuming the meat of Dungeness crab taken in waters from the California/Oregon border (42° 0.00’ N latitude) to the southern boundary of the Reading Rock State Marine Reserve (41° 17.6’ N latitude) no longer poses a significant threat for domoic acid exposure.

Following a recommendation from state health agencies, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director Charlton H. Bonham declared the recreational Dungeness crab fishery to be open in this area of northern California.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Bonham continued to delay the northern California commercial Dungeness crab season for Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte counties until 12:01 a.m. Dec. 31 due to poor quality crab. Crab meat quality tests were not conducted due to continued high domoic acid concentrations at one of the northern sampling locations.

Pictured here are the Dungeness crab zones. Photo courtesy of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Another round of testing is anticipated to occur to determine whether the fishery may open on Dec. 31 or be delayed an additional 15 days until Jan. 15, 2025.

A continued delay in the opening of the commercial Dungeness crab season in Fishing Zones 3-6 (From the Sonoma/Mendocino County line to the U.S./Mexico International Border) also remains in place after entanglement risk was assessed under the Risk Assessment Mitigation Program.

The temporary crab trap restriction in the recreational crab fishery in Fishing Zones 3 and 4 (From the Sonoma/Mendocino County line to Lopez Point [36° N. latitude]), and a Fleet Advisory for the recreational fleet in all Fishing Zones will also continue.

The next scheduled risk assessment is expected to occur on or around Dec. 20. For more information, visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Whale Safe Fisheries webpage at https://wildlife.ca.gov/conservation/marine/.