California’s commercial Dungeness crab fishery is entering a new phase this spring as wildlife officials implement innovative fishing gear designed to reduce the risk of whale entanglements while allowing fishing opportunities to continue.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) recently announced changes affecting both commercial and recreational Dungeness crab fishing in Fishing Zones 4 and 5, which stretch from Pigeon Point near San Mateo County south to Point Conception along the Santa Barbara County coast. The decision follows a risk assessment conducted under the state’s Risk Assessment Mitigation Program, which evaluates the likelihood of whales and sea turtles becoming entangled in fishing gear during seasonal migrations.
As part of the update, CDFW Director Meghan Hertel authorized the use of alternative fishing gear, commonly known as pop-up gear, in the commercial Dungeness crab fishery for the first time. The technology is designed to significantly reduce the presence of vertical lines in the water column, which are one of the primary sources of whale entanglements.
Pop-up gear functions similarly to traditional crab traps in that cages are deployed on the seafloor. However, unlike conventional traps that use surface buoys connected by vertical lines, pop-up systems keep the buoy and line coiled on the ocean floor until the gear is retrieved. When fishermen are ready to collect their traps, they send a remote acoustic signal that releases the buoy. The buoy then floats to the surface, bringing the retrieval line with it so the trap can be hauled aboard.
According to CDFW, the gear has undergone several years of testing to ensure fishermen can reliably recover traps while reducing risks to marine wildlife. State officials say the technology provides an additional fishing opportunity after the traditional crab trap season closes, while also helping protect migrating whales.
“The use of pop-up fishing gear is an exciting new development in California fisheries management,” Hertel said in announcing the change. She noted that the gear allows one of California’s most iconic fisheries to continue operating while reducing entanglement risks for whales and sea turtles moving through coastal waters.
Under the new regulations, the commercial Dungeness crab fishery in Fishing Zones 4 and 5 will close to traditional crab traps on March 27, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. After that time, the commercial take and possession of Dungeness crab from those waters will only be permitted using approved alternative gear.
Commercial fishermen will be allowed to begin using authorized pop-up systems starting April 3, 2026, at 7:00 a.m. Two models of alternative gear are currently approved for use by commercial Dungeness crab permit holders. Additional information about the approved systems and configurations is available through CDFW’s Whale Safe Fisheries program.
While new gear options are being introduced in Zones 4 and 5, the commercial crab season will remain open in Fishing Zones 1, 2, and 3, which extend from the California-Oregon border south to Pigeon Point. Those areas are currently operating under existing trap reduction requirements designed to limit the number of lines in the water.
CDFW officials say the decision reflects expected changes in whale migration patterns along the California coast. Based on historical data, the agency anticipates humpback whale abundance will increase in the coming weeks as the animals return to coastal feeding grounds. Because whales can become entangled in vertical trap lines, reducing those lines during peak migration periods is considered an important step in protecting marine wildlife.
Alongside the commercial changes, recreational crab fishing will also be affected in the same region. Beginning March 27, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., recreational crab traps will be restricted in Fishing Zones 4 and 5.
However, recreational crabbers will still be able to target Dungeness crab using other legal methods, including hoop nets and crab snares, through the remainder of the recreational season. CDFW is also reminding anglers and fishermen to follow recommended best practices designed to reduce the risk of wildlife interactions.
In addition to new fishing gear rules, the department is also opening a gear retrieval period intended to remove abandoned or lost traps from the water. Beginning April 3, 2026, at 6:00 a.m., commercial Dungeness crab vessels will be authorized to retrieve an unlimited number of traps that are lost, damaged, abandoned, or otherwise derelict in Fishing Zones 4 and 5.
The gear retrieval effort helps reduce marine debris and eliminate potential entanglement hazards that may remain after the traditional season closes. CDFW asks fishermen who retrieve derelict traps under this authorization to report their activities to the Whale Safe Fisheries program.
State regulations also limit how many traps belonging to other vessels may be possessed at one time. Under California Code of Regulations rules, vessels operating in open fishing zones may not possess more than six traps that belong to another vessel while transiting or fishing.
Officials say the department will continue monitoring whale migration activity and entanglement risk as the season progresses. The next formal risk assessment under the Risk Assessment Mitigation Program is expected to take place in early April.
The introduction of pop-up fishing gear represents a significant step forward in California’s efforts to balance commercial fishing opportunities with marine wildlife protection. If successful, the technology could help maintain access to the Dungeness crab fishery during periods when traditional gear restrictions would otherwise halt fishing entirely.
For fishermen, regulators, and conservation groups alike, the new approach reflects a growing effort to find practical solutions that allow fisheries to operate while safeguarding the whales and sea turtles that share California’s coastal waters.
