California Rock Crab Pot Fishery - MMPA List of Fisheries

Current Classification on the List of Fisheries

^ Number of participants estimates are based on state and federal fisheries permit data.  The estimated number of participants is expressed in terms of the number of active participants in the fishery, when possible.  If this information is not available, the estimated number of vessels or persons licensed for a particular fishery is provided. If no recent information is available on the number of participants, then the number from the most recent LOF is used.  NOAA Fisheries acknowledges that, in some cases, these estimations may be inflating actual effort.

*Observer coverage levels include the latest information reported in the most current final Stock Assessment Report (SAR).

¹ Indicates the stock or species is driving the classification of the fishery.

Basis for Current Classification

There is limited information about entanglements with fixed gear from entanglement stranding records; however, this fishery is listed as Category III based on the limited number of mortalities and serious injuries of marine mammals that have been documented based on the available data.

Distribution

The species targeted include the Pacific rock crab/red rock crab, brown rock crab and yellow rock crab. The rock crab fishery is year-round and occurs throughout the state of California in 10-35 fathoms depth. The fishery is composed of two management regions divided north and south of Lopez Point in Monterey County, although effort is much more concentrated in the southern part of the state centered around Santa Barbara. The fishery is open year-round, with no significant patterns in seasonal landings. There are districts where rock crab fishing is prohibited: Districts 9 (southern portion of Humboldt Bay), 19A, 19B and 21 (coastal areas within the Southern California Bight).

Gear Description

Rock crab traps configurations are variable across the fishery. Common trap dimensions are 24" x 24" x 12", with different wire mesh sizes. Most traps have an entry funnel on the top made of 6" diameter PVC pipe, while others have entry funnels on the sides. Some use plastic Fathoms Plus traps. Traps must have at least one ring for escapement (3¼" diameter), and two escape rings are required if using less than 1^7/8 x 3^7/8 inch wire mesh. Destructive devices that create an unobstructed opening anywhere in the top or upper half of the trap when this material corrodes or fails are required. Most traps are fished singularly, but strings of 5-25 traps are not uncommon.

Management

This is a state managed fishery, requiring a commercial fishing license in conjunction with either a northern or southern (below 36°00’ N, or Lopez Point) rock crab permit. Northern rock crab permits are open access, whereas southern rock crab permits are limited entry but transferrable. Only a limited number of southern permits may be transferred during the year. Kellet’s whelk and octopus are allowed to be taken as incidental catch in rock crab traps. Crabs not belonging to the genus Cancer sp. are also allowed to be taken incidentally, but are subject to limited amounts. Rock crabs can be taken incidentally during lobster season by fishermen holding a valid lobster operator permit without a rock crab permit.

There are no restrictions on the number of traps that may be fished under each permit, but the typical number of traps operated at any given time is less than 200. Buoys are required to be marked with the license number of the operator and the letter “X “to identify the fishery. Rock crab must measure at least 4¼ inches across their carapace to be retained.

Historical Information

Timeline of Changes