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Report: Whale entanglements constrain Dungeness crab fishery; entanglement reports down from peak years
Summary
Council presenters said confirmed West Coast whale entanglement reports in 2025 were below the 2015–18 peak and slightly lower than 2024, but humpbacks remain the most reported species and entanglement risk led to closures and gear restrictions—California's Dungeness crab fishery faced season‑long restrictions.
Council members were briefed on whale entanglement patterns and management responses in 2025. Mary Hunsicker said confirmed West Coast entanglement reports in 2025 were below the 2015–18 peak years and slightly lower than 2024, with humpback whales the most commonly reported species.
The presentation connected changes in prey distribution and habitat compression to increased nearshore whale presence, which in turn raises entanglement risk. Mary…
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