NEWPORT, Ore. – To reduce the risk of humpback whale entanglements in commercial Dungeness crab gear, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is moving the May 1 “late-season” regulations to April 1 this year.
These regulations require commercial crab fishermen to fish in waters less than 40 fathoms, use 20 percent fewer pots, and affix a “late-season” buoy tag to each pot.
“While our current pot limit reduction and depth restriction has reduced the number of vertical lines in the water after May 1, newer research shows that starting these measures in April will do even more to reduce entanglement risk,” says Justin Ainsworth, ODFW Marine Resources Program Manager. “Whale distribution in Oregon waters varies each year but limiting commercial Dungeness crab fishing to shallower waters in April will help reduce overlap with crab gear.”
The West Coast humpback whale population is growing and interactions with Dungeness crab gear are increasing.
The National Marine Fisheries Service attributes the entanglement of three humpback whales in 2024 and four in 2025 to Oregon Dungeness crab fishing gear, including an entangled juvenile humpback whale that stranded alive near Yachats last November.
In a Dec. 5, 2025 commercial crab fleet advisory, ODFW stated the agency would strongly consider the potential need to take additional regulatory action in the 2025-26 season to further reduce entanglement risk. Today, ODFW also issued an industry notice on late-season regulations beginning April 1 this year.
Actions to reduce entanglement risk are part of this sustainable fishery that brings in over $230 million in income to coastal communities each year and generates 3,000 jobs.
Report entangled whales or sea turtles immediately to the NMFS entanglement response hotline at 1-877-SOS-WHALe (1-877-767-9425).