Oregon Crab Fishermen Say New Regulations Hoping to Protect Whales Could Kill Their Industry

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission has extended Dungeness crab fishing rules to reduce whale entanglements, but commercial fishermen say the regulations will put them out of business.

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission removed the sunset provision on rules to prevent the entanglement of whales in crab fishing gear during a meeting in Salem, Ore., on Aug. 4, 2023. Courtesy of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission has extended Dungeness crab fishing rules to reduce whale entanglements, but commercial fishermen say the regulations will put them out of business.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) told the commission that the restrictions, begun in 2020 and set to end this year, appear to have reduced entanglements.