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CDFW opened the commercial dungeness crab fishery in Fishing Zones 3, 4 and 5 on January 5, under a 40% Gear Reduction.

A gear setting period for Fishing Zones 3-5 began on January 2.

Fishing Zones 1 and 2 will open with a 15% Gear Reduction once domoic acid and quality testing requirements are met. Currently, Fishing Zones 1 and 2 will be delayed until at least January 15, pending testing requirements.



Additionally, the Crab Trap Prohibition for the recreational fishery in Fishing Zones 1, 3 and 4, were lifted effective January 2. All documents are available in this 2025-26 Risk Assessment.

Upcoming Risk Assessment: January 15-16

The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has released a Request for Information for the 2025 Five-Year Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program—the blueprint that will determine where new offshore drilling could occur from 2025 through 2030. BOEM has included all 27 federal planning areas—even those long protected by law, moratoria, or presidential withdrawal—such as waters adjacent to the Monterey Bay, Channel Islands, and Farallon Islands National Marine Sanctuaries. While no specific lease sites have been proposed, this inclusion signals a potential rollback of decades of bipartisan coastal protection.

Please consider making a public comment on the proposed plan. For more information, check out https://www.savemycoast.org/.



Save Our Shores, Oceana, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Surfrider Monterey, and others are coming together with local representatives, industry professionals, and community members to discuss this new Five-Year Offshore Drilling Plan.

MBFT's Executive Director, Melissa Mahoney, will be participating as a speaker as well to discuss the potential impacts offshore drilling would have on Monterey Bay Fisheries and the future of our fisheries economy.

Learn more and RSVP for the event here.

Friday, January 9th, 6-8pm

Portola Hotel and Spa, Bonsai Room

Two Portola Plaza

Monterey, California 93940

Not on our Watch: Stopping More Oil Drilling on California’s Coast

On January 15th the California Natural Resource Agency is hosting a Speaker Series discussion on this topic as well. Join the meeting to learn more about what federal agencies are planning, how Californians are fighting back, and how you can join community hearings across our state.

January 15th, 12-1pm

Register to join here

Santa Cruz Harbor Port Commission Meeting

January 27

Moss Landing Harbor Meeting

January 28

Pacific Fisheries Management Council Meeting

March 4-9

CA Fish & Game Commission Meeting

March 12

Ocean Protection Council Meeting

March 23

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