Sacramento, CA – In response to the Dungeness crab season opening south of the Sonoma/Mendocino County line today, Senator Mike McGuire issued the following statement:

“Unfortunately, this is a bit of mixed news. While we have anticipated the Dungeness crab season opener since last November, coming this late in the season won’t move the needle when it comes to assisting the thousands of crabbers who have been struggling for nearly a year.” Senator McGuire said. “The vast majority of crabs are caught earlier in the winter months, so opening the season now will likely result in a dwindling number of crab trapped due to their mating and molting cycle.”

Last month, leading a bi-partisan delegation of state legislators, Senator McGuire requested Governor Brown advance a disaster declaration due to the devastating closure of the multi-million dollar crab harvest. The Governor made the federal fishery disaster request on Feb. 9.

It was announced today that with clean domoic acid tests in the region, the Dungeness crab season will open in District 10, south of the Sonoma/Mendocino County line. The recreational season will open immediately and the commercial season will open in a week.

###