California’s commercial Dungeness crab season delayed again to protect whales

The commencement of nan commercialized Dungeness crab play successful California has been delayed for nan seventh consecutive twelvemonth to protect humpback whales from becoming entangled successful trap and buoy lines

SAN FRANCISCO -- The commencement of nan commercialized Dungeness crab play successful California has been delayed for nan seventh twelvemonth successful a statement to protect humpback whales from becoming entangled successful trap and buoy lines.

The authorities Department of Fish and Wildlife said Friday that commercialized crabbing will beryllium delayed until astatine slightest Dec. 1. The business will beryllium reassessed connected aliases astir Nov. 15.

It’s nan latest hold for nan commencement of nan commercialized season, which traditionally originates successful mid-November for waters betwixt nan Mendocino region statement and nan separator pinch Mexico.

Meanwhile nan recreational return of Dungeness crab utilizing traps will beryllium temporarily restricted successful immoderate areas erstwhile nan recreational play opens Nov. 2, officials said. Recreational crabbers will beryllium capable to usage different methods, including hoop nets and crab snares.

The commercialized crab manufacture is 1 of California’s awesome fisheries and nan shellfish is particularly celebrated astir nan holidays.

Humpback whales tin get caught successful nan vertical ropes connected to dense commercialized traps, which they tin resistance astir for months, leaving them injured, starved aliases truthful exhausted that they tin drown.

Humpback whales migrate northbound annually from Mexico’s Baja California peninsula, wherever they commencement calves. In spring, summertime and autumn nan humpbacks provender connected anchovies, sardines and krill disconnected nan California seashore earlier heading backmost south.