Fish and Game Code (FGC) Section 8276.2 (c) provides the Director with the authority to delay the season opening, due to soft-shell or poor quality crab conditions, in Fish and Game Districts 6, 7, 8 & 9 (Mendocino, Humboldt, and Del Norte counties) to a date no later than January 15, 2013.

Crab quality tests conducted in northern California on October 22 and November 6, 2012 indicated the crabs would not be ready for harvest on December 1, 2012, and I therefore delayed the opening of the season until December 16, 2012, pending further testing results. Based on tests completed on December 6, 2012, poor quality conditions were still apparent and in the interest of cooperatively managing the interstate Dungeness crab fishery, I am delaying the opening of Dungeness crab season in northern California (Districts 6, 7, 8 & 9) until 12:01 a.m., December 31, 2012. Further testing may occur on or about December 17 to provide missing data for the Trinidad area for use in determining whether an additional delay may be necessary.

Pursuant to FGC Section 8276.3 (b), the opening date in Districts 6, 7, 8 and 9 shall be preceded by a 36-hour gear setting period. Therefore, crab gear may be set beginning no earlier than 12:01 p.m., on December 29, 2012.

As provided in FGC Section 8276.3 no vessel may take or land crab within Districts 6, 7, 8 & 9 during the closure period. In addition, FGC Section 8279.1 prohibits anyone who landed crab from ocean waters outside of Districts 6, 7, 8 & 9 from participating in the crab fishery in Districts 6, 7, 8 & 9, or any other delayed opening areas in Oregon or Washington, for 30 days following the opening of those areas.