Oregon considering further Dungeness crab restrictions

The U.S. state of Oregon is considering a handful of new restrictions on Dungeness crab fishermen – including a 20 percent reduction in pot limits – to reduce the risk of wildlife becoming entangled in crabbing gear.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is planning to host a meeting in Salem, Oregon, U.S.A. on 4 August to discuss the changes and evaluate the effectiveness of previously adopted measures.

The department is considering a slate of new risk reduction actions, including:

• A 20 percent reduction in the pot limits across all permits;
• Requiring an additional late-season buoy tag starting 1 May;
• Prohibiting commercial crabbing outside of 40 fathoms starting 1 May; and
• Restricting the amount of surface gear.

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