After delays due to entanglement risk, crab meat quality issues, and elevated levels of domoic acid, the commercial Dungeness crab fishery will open in portions of northern California on Thursday, Jan. 15 under a 15 percent gear reduction. The commercial fishery will open in the following areas at 12:01 a.m., Jan. 15 preceded by a 64-hour gear setting period beginning at 8:01 a.m. on Jan. 12:
California/Oregon border to the southern boundary of the Reading Rock State Marine Protected Areas and Cape Mendocino to the Sonoma/Mendocino County line.
This follows the Jan. 5 opening of the commercial Dungeness crab fishery in the Central Management Area.
In one area of northern California, state health agencies determined that Dungeness crab have unhealthy levels of domoic acid, a naturally occurring toxin, and recommended delaying the opening of the commercial fishery in that area. Following this recommendation, the Acting Director of California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) ordered a delay in the opening of the commercial Dungeness crab fishery from the southern boundary of the Reading Rock State Marine Protected Areas to Cape Mendocino.
The Fair Start Provision is also triggered when there are commercial season delays along the West Coast for Dungeness crab. This provision prohibits vessels that fished in another area prior to the opening of a delayed area from fishing in the newly opened area for a period of 30 days. This will apply to the fishing areas that are scheduled to open Jan. 15 and vessels subject to Fair Start may not begin fishing in these areas until Feb 14. For more information, see the Frequently Asked Questions for the current 2025-26 commercial Dungeness crab season.
The delayed opening of commercial Dungeness crab fishing in this area shall remain in effect until the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, in consultation with the State Public Health Officer of California Department of Public Health (CDPH), determines that domoic acid no longer poses a significant risk to public health. If a determination is made that any part of the delay should be lifted, announcements will be made as soon as possible. Pursuant to Section 5523 of the Fish and Game Code, the CDFW Director may provide a minimum of 72-hour notice to the fleet when trap gear can be set.
The latest information on current fishing season closures related to domoic acid will be updated on CDFW’s fishery closure information and health advisories website or by calling CDFW’s Domoic Acid Fishery Closure Information Line at (831) 649-2883. The latest domoic acid test results for Dungeness crab are posted on the CDPH’s Domoic Acid website (subsection Analytical Data – Crabs).
For the latest consumption warnings, check for any Dungeness crab health advisory information on the CDPH’s shellfish advisories page or by calling the CDPH’s Biotoxin Information Line at (510) 412-4643 or toll-free at (800) 553-4133.
