SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The start of the commercial Dungeness crab season will likely be delayed by a week to lower the risk of whales getting entangled in fishing lines.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife said Friday that opening day of the season may be postponed from Nov. 15 to Nov. 23.
The department said the earlier date presents "a significant risk" of whale entanglement. CDFW Director Charlton Bonham said fishing, environmental and management agencies were consulted before making the preliminary decision.
The recreational crab season began Saturday.
State health officials warned people not to consume to internal organs or guts of crab caught in two coastal areas due to the presence of domoic acid, a naturally-occurring toxin that can cause vomiting or diarrhea when consumed.
