RACING FOR CRABS: DIFFICULT MANAGEMENT OPTIONS IN CALIFORNIA'S COMMERCIAL DUNGENESS CRAB FISHERY

Dungeness crab (Cancer magister) supports a valuable commercial fishery along the Pacific coast of North America. In recent decades the fishery has intensified significantly, with most crab landed during the first six weeks of the seven-month season. Management approaches to slow this intensifying and dangerous race have been elusive. This study of fishermen's operating costs and their opinions of new management measures is intended to support ongoing discussions and decision-making about policy changes that may affect the economics of the fishery. Results of our survey of California crab permit owners shows that a majority of fishermen have favorable views of only two of twelve alternative measures: (1) one trap limit for all size vessels and, (2) daylight fishing only. However, opinions of these measures vary between owners of different sized vessels. Experiences in other crustacean trap fisheries around the world suggest that simply implementing these two measures may not significantly decrease total trap numbers fished or slow the race for crab. In addition to reporting the survey results, we will discuss likely future management.