Commercial and Rec Crab Continued Season Delay/Trap Prohibition and Advisory - 12/15/21
Summary
SCH Number
2021120519
Public Agency
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Marin Region 7
(CDFW)
Document Title
Commercial and Rec Crab Continued Season Delay/Trap Prohibition and Advisory - 12/15/21
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
12/22/2021
Document Description
Continuation of season delay in Fishing Zone 3 and Depth Constraint in Fishing Zone 4, as well as Fleet Fishing Advisory statewide to reduce entanglement risk
Contact Information
Name
Ryan Bartling
Agency Name
CA - Department of Fish and Wildlife
Job Title
Senior Environmental Scientist Specialist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Regions
Statewide
Other Location Info
ocean waters between the Sonoma/Mendocino County line and Lopez Point
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15307 (Class 7); 15308 (Class 8)
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed project will continue the existing delay the opening of the season of the commercial Dungeness crab fishery and temporarily prohibit the use of recreational crab traps in Fishing Zone 3 in response to marine life entanglement risk, and well as continue the existing depth constraint prohibiting fishing activity in areas in Fishing Zone 4 where humpback whales have been observed. Lines and buoys of Dungeness crab traps pose a marine life entanglement risk, especially for whales and sea turtles migrating through California waters. The additional delay/temporary trap prohibition and depth constraint will have the overall effect of reducing the entanglement risk by preventing traps from being set in areas of the marine environment where whales and sea turtles are present, and thereby is the proper subject of CEQA’s Class 7 and 8 categorical exemptions. Additionally, the season opening in Fishing Zone 3 will be subject to a Fleet Advisory, which gives information to fishery participants on whale location and allows for fishing activity to occur in a why that limits risk of entanglement.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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