Tuesday October 6, 2026
National Fisherman —
California has extended several key provisions governing its commercial Dungeness crab fishery through 2037, including rules to reduce marine life entanglements, maintain the state’s trap limit program, and allow vessels to transit closed waters under certain conditions.
Senate Bill 1393, which was passed on Sept. 27, extends California’s Dungeness crab risk assessment and mitigation provisions, task force, and related fishery management measures that otherwise were scheduled to expire in 2030.
Under existing law, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), in consultation with the California Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear Working Group and other stakeholders, uses criteria and protocols to evaluate the potential risk of marine life entanglement. The director of CDFW can restrict the take of Dungeness crab based on those protocols.
SB 1393 extends that authority through Jan. 1, 2037.
The legislation also continues the California Dungeness Crab Task Force and the state’s tiered trap limit program. The task force includes 17 voting members representing commercial fishing interests from ports ranging from Crescent City to areas south of Half Moon Bay, along with representatives from processing, sport fishing, and other sectors.