MENDOCINO CO., 10/31/24 – Recreational Dungeness crab season starts in Mendocino County on Saturday, said the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Recreational crab traps can be used along the entire Mendocino Coast, from the Sonoma/Mendocino counties border to Cape Mendocino.
Fishermen looking to head south to the Sonoma Coast for crab will have to wait to set recreational traps due to a high presence of humpback whales. According to the department, humpback whales can get caught in crab trap gear, resulting in injury or death. The department continues to monitor conditions and will provide an update on Nov. 15.
Recreational season has also been delayed in parts of the North Coast, specifically from the California/Oregon border to Reading Rock State Marine Reserve in Humboldt County, said the department on Thursday.
Setting traps is prohibited due to domoic acid being present in the ocean.
“Domoic acid is a potent neurotoxin produced by Pseudo-nitzschia, a naturally occurring single-celled, marine alga under certain ocean conditions,” said the department. “Domoic acid can accumulate in shellfish, other invertebrates and sometimes fish without the organism becoming ill themselves. At low levels, domoic acid exposure can cause nausea, diarrhea and dizziness in humans. At higher levels, it can cause persistent short-term memory loss, seizures and can in some cases be fatal.”
The department will continue to monitor conditions.
Statewide commercial crab season is still on schedule to open on Dec. 1.