Oregon shifts Dungeness crab season to April 1, 2026, to reduce humpback whale entanglements.

Oregon is moving its late-season Dungeness crab fishing start from May 1 to April 1, 2026, to reduce humpback whale entanglements. New rules require fishing in waters under 40 fathoms, a 20% reduction in crab pots, and mandatory "late-season" buoy tags. The change follows research showing earlier implementation lowers whale-gear overlap, especially as the West Coast humpback population grows. The National Marine Fisheries Service has tied recent whale entanglements, including a live juvenile stranded near Yachats in November 2025, to Oregon crab gear. The measures aim to protect whales while sustaining a fishery worth over $230 million annually and supporting 3,000 coastal jobs. Report entanglements immediately to 1-877-SOS-WHALe.