Board / Zone / Northern Management Area (Dungeness)

Northern Management Area (Dungeness)

Crab management areaCalifornia

OR/CA border to Sonoma/Mendocino line

Zone status

Fisheries in this zone

  • Dungeness crabPer latest notices
    Commercial Dungeness Crab Pop-up Fishing Gear Now Authorized for the Entire Central Management Area, Depth Restriction in Northern Management Area to Protect Whales from Entanglement
    CLOSEDsince Apr 16, 2026
  • Commercial Dungeness crabPer latest notices
    Commercial Dungeness Crab Pop-up Fishing Gear Now Authorized for the Entire Central Management Area, Depth Restriction in Northern Management Area to Protect Whales from Entanglement
    CLOSEDsince Apr 16, 2026
Notice timeline

Notices touching Northern Management Area (Dungeness)

  • ClosureCDFW
    Commercial Dungeness Crab Pop-up Fishing Gear Now Authorized for the Entire Central Management Area, Depth Restriction in Northern Management Area to Protect Whales from Entanglement
    Read the notice

    A 30-fathom depth restriction will be implemented in the commercial Dungeness crab fishery effective 6 p.m. on April 30, 2026 in Fishing Zones 1 and 2 (California/Oregon border to the Sonoma/Mendocino county line). In Fishing Zone 3 (Sonoma/Mendocino county line to Pigeon Point), the commercial Dungeness crab fishery will close at 6 p.m. on April 30, 2026, at which time the commercial take and possession of Dungeness crab from those waters is prohibited unless using alternative gear, the use of which is authorized to begin at 7 a.m. on May 7, 2026. Permitted commercial Dungeness crab vessels are conditionally authorized to retrieve lost, damaged, abandoned, or otherwise derelict commercial Dungeness crab traps. Read the press release for details and conditions. There are no changes to the current recreational crab fishing regulations or seasons.