California's Dungeness crab fishery faces significant challenges, including a delayed start to the season and strict regulations implemented to protect endangered humpback whales. These regulations, which restrict fishing practices, aim to reduce whale entanglements that often lead to injury or death. Despite a fragile recovery of humpback populations since their endangered status was granted in 1970, the crab industry is adversely affected. The combination of environmental concerns and health issues like domoic acid contamination has led to a shortened crab season, limiting fishermen's opportunities and impacting the $45-million industry.
The annual crab season has been repeatedly truncated, due to both whale safety concerns and elevated levels of domoic acid, limiting opportunities for fishermen.
Each year, a number of humpback whales migrating through California's waters to and from tropical breeding grounds get entangled in commercial crab fishing gear.
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