The delay in the Dungeness crab season, now for the seventh consecutive year, aims to protect humpback whales from becoming entangled in trap and buoy lines, which can lead to severe injuries or death.
Commercial crabbing in California is delayed until at least Dec. 1 to ensure the safety of migrating humpback whales, with a reassessment planned for mid-November, reflecting ongoing conservation efforts.
While commercial crabbers face restrictions, recreational crabbers will still be able to catch crab using alternative methods like hoop nets and crab snares starting Nov. 2, as part of the attempts to protect whale populations.
Humpback whales, returning from their breeding grounds in Baja California, face dangers from commercial trap lines, leading to this cautious approach to managing one of California's key fisheries.
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