Rule changes proposed for commercial Dungeness crab fishery

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife is proposing rule changes to the commercial Dungeness crab fishery to address marine life entanglements, improve monitoring, and clarify current rules.

Fish and Wildlife will host a town hall via Zoom the proposed changes at 5 p.m. Feb. 26.

The proposed rule changes are available now for public review on the Fish and Wildlife website and a draft compliance guide provides details on existing and proposed rules, crabbing gear diagrams, and definitions of frequently used terms.

Fish and Wildlife will present the proposed changes to the state Fish and Wildlife Commission during its March 20-22 meeting.

Information on how to register to provide comments during the meeting will be made available on the commission website.

“These proposed regulations are instrumental in advancing conservation efforts around whale entanglements,” Fish and Wildlife Coastal Marine Fisheries Whale Entanglement Coordinator Megan Hintz said in a news release. “The coastal commercial Dungeness crab fishery was the first on the West Coast to implement line marking, and we appreciate the industry’s support in developing these new comprehensive requirements.”

Line marking helps identify the fishery and origin of gear involved in marine life entanglements, and was first required in the coastal Dungeness crab commercial fishery in 2020.

Proposed changes for the coastal commercial crab fishery include updating gear marking requirements to improve visibility and help trace it to the fishery, and limiting surface gear length and the number of buoys allowed.

Proposed changes for both the coastal and Puget Sound commercial crab fisheries include prohibiting the use of line marks or colors required in another commercial fishery for the commercial crab fishery; making the designated vessel operator responsible for buoy brand registration and for limiting surface gear length; specifying that buoy brand and color combination must be registered annually before fishing; and updating rule language to clarify requirements.

The public can provide comment until noon March 24 through the PublicInput webpage; through email at commercialcrabrules@publicinput.com; by voicemail at 855-925-2801, project code 11027; or by mail to Agency Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 43200, Olympia, 98501.

Addressing the risk of marine life entanglement in crabbing gear is part of the updated Coastal Dungeness Crab Policy that the Fish and Wildlife Commission approved in October.

Whales and sea turtles have federal protections that define the impact fisheries can have on these species and outline processes to reduce impacts.

Entanglement in fishing gear is one of the main human causes of death and serious injury in whales on the West Coast.

Commercial Dungeness crab gear makes up the largest portion of identifiable gear in whale entanglements on the West Coast.

However, about 50% of entanglements involve unidentified gear. Improved gear marking helps to accurately trace gear to a fishery.

Washington’s 2024-25 coastal commercial Dungeness crab season is ongoing.