January 6, 2025 — While the Dungeness crab fishing season opened on Monday, many fishermen did not head out on the water.
“Not today with the bad weather,” said Sal Tringali with Monterey Fish Company.
On top of recent storms creating dangerous conditions on the water, fishermen are also in price disputes with buyers.
Since state regulations, aimed at protecting whales from fishing line entanglements, delayed the season until after the holiday demand and require fishermen to go out with 40% less gear this year, they are hoping to get a better opening price.
In a news release, the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations said, “Member fishermen are united in standing together to achieve a fair price, recognizing that fishing at a price 30 percent lower than last year is not economically viable. Operating costs continue to rise, while fishing days have been reduced by more than half under new regulations in recent years.”