WDFW proposes crab rule changes to address marine life entanglements

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is proposing rule changes to the commercial Dungeness crab fishery to address marine life entanglements, improve monitoring and clarify current rules.

The proposed rule changes are available now for public review, as well as a draft compliance guide (https://wdfw.wa.gov/) that provides details on existing and proposed rules, crabbing gear diagrams and definitions of frequently used terms.

“These proposed regulations are instrumental in advancing conservation efforts around whale entanglements,” said Megan Hintz, WDFW’s coastal marine fisheries whale entanglement coordinator. “The coastal commercial Dungeness crab fishery was the first on the West Coast to implement line marking, and we appreciate the industry’s support in developing these new comprehensive requirements.”

Line marking helps identify the fishery and origin of gear involved in marine life entanglements. WDFW first required line marking in the coastal Dungeness crab commercial fishery in 2020.

Proposed changes for the coastal commercial crab fishery:

• Updating gear marking requirements to improve visibility and help trace it to the fishery.
• Limiting surface gear length and the number of buoys allowed. No more than three buoys would be allowed in addition to a small end marker buoy.
• Prohibiting buoy brands required by a treaty tribal fishery to be registered or used for the state fishery, to help improve gear traceability.

Proposed changes for both the coastal and Puget Sound commercial crab fisheries:

• Prohibiting the use of line marks or colors required in another commercial fishery for the commercial crab fishery.
• Making the designated vessel operator, instead of the license holder, responsible for buoy brand registration and for limiting surface gear length.
• Specifying that buoy brand and color combination must be registered annually before fishing.
• Updating rule language to clarify requirements.

WDFW will host a virtual town hall on the proposed changes at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26. through Zoom.

The Department will also present the proposed changes to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission during a March 20-22 hybrid meeting in Kennewick. Information on how to register to provide comments during the meeting will be made available on the Commission meeting webpage.

The public can provide comment until noon Monday, March 24, through the public input webpage; by emailing commercialcrabrules@publicinput.com; by voicemail at 855-925-2801, project code 11027; or by mail to Agency Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 43200, Olympia, WA 98501.

Addressing the risk of marine life entanglement in crabbing gear is part of the updated Coastal Dungeness Crab Policy, which the Fish and Wildlife Commission approved in October.

Whales and sea turtles have federal protections that define the impact fisheries can have on these species and outline processes to reduce impacts. Entanglement in fishing gear is one of the main human causes of death and serious injury in whales on the West Coast.

Commercial Dungeness crab gear makes up the largest portion of identifiable gear in whale entanglements on the West Coast; however, over 50% of entanglements involve unidentified gear. Improved gear marking helps to accurately trace gear to a fishery.

Washington’s 2024-25 coastal commercial Dungeness crab season is ongoing.