Bay Area Dungeness crabbing season: California expands test of pop-up crab traps; what this means for crabbers [Video]

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — We’ve had a lot of discouraging news recently about the Dungeness crab season being delayed here in the Bay Area. But a recent big development could help turn the situation around this spring.

It centers on experimental crab traps that could produce a whale-safe catch, while keeping the industry climate ready.

For fisherman Brand Little, the specialized ropes connecting his crab traps are a financial lifeline.

The experimental “pop-up” system is designed to prevent whales from getting entangled, by keeping lines on the ocean floor until a crew launches them by remote control to reel in the traps.

And thanks to a special testing permit, he’s been able to fish into the spring crabbing season, which was cut-short several years ago to protect the migrating whales.

“This is a tipping point, and I can’t stress this enough. This is a tipping point at getting our spring fishery back. It’s been …