California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director Charlton H. Bonham issued a declaration to open the recreational and commercial Dungeness crab fisheries from Patrick’s Point, Humboldt County north to the California/Oregon state line.

The area from the Patrick’s Point, Humboldt County (41° 8.00’ N. Latitude) north to the California/Oregon state line was closed due to elevated levels of domoic acid. Public health agencies have determined that domoic acid no longer poses a significant risk to public health in this area.

The recreational Dungeness crab fishery is now open in this area.

Under recent amendments to Section 5523 of the Fish and Game Code, the CDFW Director may provide a minimum of 72-hours’ notice before a gear setting period. Therefore, the Director has declared the commercial fishery to open at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 25, 2019, to be preceded by a 64-hour gear setting period that would begin no earlier than 8:01 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2019.

For more information, please see the Frequently Asked Questionsregarding the 2018-19 Dungeness crab commercial season.