To protect migrating humpback whales, California's crab season delayed

SAN FRANCISCO, California: California's commercial Dungeness crab season has been postponed once again to protect migrating humpback whales from entanglements in trap and buoy lines.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced on Friday that the season will be delayed until at least December 1, with a reassessment planned for mid-November.

This marks the seventh consecutive year the season has been delayed. Authorities are working to prevent harm to humpback whales, which are at risk of becoming entangled in the heavy vertical ropes of commercial crab traps. These entanglements can injure or exhaust the whales, sometimes leading to starvation or drowning.

The delay affects the waters between the Mendocino County line and the Mexican border, where the commercial season typically opens in mid-November. Recreational crabbing will also face temporary restrictions in some areas when it opens on November 2. The restrictions limit the use of traps but allow alternatives like hoop nets and crab snares.

Dungeness crab is a popular seafood in California, especially around the holidays, and the commercial crab industry is one of the state's most significant fisheries.

However, the safety of humpback whales, which migrate annually from Mexico's Baja California peninsula to feed along the California coast, remains a priority. In the spring, summer, and fall, the whales rely on coastal waters for feeding before returning south for the winter.