California Dungeness Crab Season Is Delayed Until at Least the Week of Christmas

[YoshidaYui]

Due to the risk of humpback whales and endangered sea turtles being caught in fishing equipment, California’s commercial Dungeness crab season has been delayed again

Lauren Saria is the editor of Eater SF and has been writing about food, drinks, and restaurants for more than a decade.


On Thursday, December 7, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced a third delay to the start of the 2023-2024 commercial crabbing season meaning diners will have to wait until at least the new year for the local delicacy. The delay comes as a result of humpback whales and endangered Pacific leatherback sea turtles in the waters off the coast; both animals can become entangled in fishing gear and, according to the CDFW, at least one sea turtle became entangled in “commercial Dungeness crab fishing gear lost in a previous season.” The department expects to complete its next risk assessment on December 21.

In the meantime, recreational crab trapping will open up in the northernmost part of the California coast on December 16, and recreational crabbing by other means — including hoop nets and crab snares — continues to be allowed despite the other ongoing restrictions. San Francisco residents can also buy Dungeness crab caught in other locales at local markets including Alioto-Lazio Fish Company, Billingsgate, and Sun Fat Seafood Co.

https://sf.eater.com/2023/12/8/23993594/california-dungeness-crab-season-delayed.