10/15/19 and 10/31/19 - The California Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear Working Group held Preseason Risk Assessment meetings to develop recommendations for the CDFW Director in advance of the 2019-20 season. The preseason risk assessments were low to moderate and decreasing and the recommendation was to open the season on time on 11/15/19. On 10/31/19 follow up meeting, the majority upheld this assessment and a minority (7 of 22 members) favored a delay. - Link to Pre-Season Risk Assessment and recommendations memo from the Working Group
11/1/19- The Director of California Department of Fish and Wildlife issued a Preliminary Determination of Significant Entanglement Risk - Link to Notice
11/5/19- The Director of Fish and Wildlife issued a Declaration of Season Delay due to Significant Marine Life Entanglement Risk in the Dungeness Crab Commercial Fishery which delayed the season from 11/15/19 to 11/22/19- Link to Declaration of Season Delay 11/5/19
11/15/19- The Department of Fish and Wildlife issued a press release announcing the closure of the Northern Dungeness Crab fishery due to quality test results and that an area of the Central Management District from Pillar Point Harbor to Point Reyes could be delayed for Domoic acid, and that the opening or delay of the fishery would be announced prior to 6 p.m. on Nov. 20 (12 hours before the scheduled set time of 6am on Nov 21) - Link to 11/15/19 Press Release
11/18/19- California Department of Fish and Wildlife conducted an aerial survey and a concentration of whales was reported following that flyover.
11/19/19- Director Bonham gave testimony at the Joint Fisheries and Aquaculture meeting where he said he felt a delay in the season was unwarranted because of commercial crabbers’ commitment to fishing responsibly. A video of these comments can be seen here and a full video of the hearing can be seen here.
11/19/19- Fishermen in Bodega Bay, San Francisco and Half Moon Bay were concerned about the results of the survey, unclear on the process for which data was being reviewed and how risk was being assessed since previous surveys had been conducted through the Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear Working Group and the 11/18/19 survey was not.
11/19/19- Bodega Bay Fisherman’s Association voted to voluntarily delay the season which was reported in an article in the Press Democrat.
11/20/19- Half Moon Bay had a port discussion during which the majority of fishermen present felt that a short delay to achieve clarity on the risk being assumed by the fleet was appropriate.
11/20/19- HMBSMA board voted 6 to 1 to send a letter to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife in coordination with letters being sent by Bodega Bay and San Francisco. HMBSMA requested a delay of not more than 7-10 days and the letter sent can be found below.
HMBSMA Letter to CDFW to delay the season 11/20/19
11/20/19- The Director of California Department of Fish and Wildlife issued a Preliminary Determination of Significant Entanglement Risk and a potential delay until 12/15/19 - Link to Notice
11/21/19- HMBSMA board voted to send a public comment requesting an expedient opening of the season ahead of the proposed 12/15/19 date
HMBSMA Letter to CDFW to delay the season 11/20/19
11/22/19- The Director of Fish and Wildlife issued a Declaration of Season Delay due to Significant Marine Life Entanglement Risk in the Dungeness Crab Commercial Fishery which delayed the season to 12/15/19- Link to Declaration of Season Delay 11/22/19