December 19, 2025 Commercial Trap Reduction and Lifting of the Recreational Crab Trap Prohibition
Summary
SCH Number
2025120988
Public Agency
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Marine Region 7
(CDFW)
Document Title
December 19, 2025 Commercial Trap Reduction and Lifting of the Recreational Crab Trap Prohibition
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
12/22/2025
Document Description
Commercial Dungeness crab trap reduction in all Fishing Zones to reduce marine life entanglement and lifting of recreational crab trap prohibition in Fishing Zones 1, 3 and 4.
Contact Information
Name
Ryan Bartling
Agency Name
CA Dept of Fish and Wildlife
Job Title
Senior Environmental Scientist Supervisor
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Counties
Del Norte, Humboldt, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Sonoma
Regions
Statewide
Other Location Info
Statewide California
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15307 (Class 7); 15308 (Class 8)
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed project will restrict crab traps for the commercial Dungeness crab fishery in response to marine life entanglement risk. Lines and buoys of Dungeness crab traps pose a marine life entanglement risk, especially for whales and sea turtles migrating through California waters. The restriction will have the overall effect of reducing the entanglement risk by preventing traps from being set in areas of the marine environment where whales and sea turtles are present, and thereby is the proper subject of CEQA’s Class 7 and 8 categorical exemptions. In compliance with CEQA, the Department approved the project relying on the categorical exemptions contained in CEQA Guidelines of Title 14, CCR: Section 15307 (Action by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of Natural Resources) and Section 15308 (Action by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment). The exemptions apply to agency actions to protect natural resources and the environment, respectively.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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