The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has announced the closure of Dungeness crab fishing south of Pigeon Point starting April 15, in response to increased danger to humpback whales. This year's crab season opened on January 5, but entanglements of humpback whales reached a six-year high, with severe cases leading to fatal outcomes. Officials and scientists warn that current measures are ineffective and that continued fishing poses considerable risks to endangered whale populations, while potentially harming local fishing communities in the future.
"Based on the department's own data, in the last three seasons, 33 humpback whales out of a total of 38 were first sighted entangled after the central California crab season closed," Dr. Geoff Shester, Oceana's California campaign director and senior scientist, said in a statement.
"California's plan for reducing whale entanglements is not working," Shester said. "Keeping the Bay Area and Northern California crab season open right now presents an extreme risk to endangered whales - with very low reward - that will ultimately hurt California fishing communities in the long-term."
#humpback-whales #dungeness-crab-fishing #entanglement #california-fishing-regulations #endangered-species
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