SAN FRANCISCO — California wildlife regulators on Wednesday postponed the start of the commercial Dungeness crab season to protect whales and sea turtles from becoming entangled in fishing gear. The Department of Fish and Wildlife announced that it was pushing back the scheduled Nov. 15 start of the season to...
Man Charged With Shooting Elephant Seal Near San Simeon
LOS ANGELES — A 30-year-old-man was charged Tuesday with shooting and killing a protected northern elephant seal on a California beach, federal prosecutors said. Jordan Gerbich, of Santa Maria, faces one count of taking a marine mammal, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. It wasn't immediately known...
Off the Hook: California King Salmon Rebounds After Drought
SAN FRANCISCO — Trolling off the California coast, Sarah Bates leans over the side of her boat and pulls out a long, silvery fish prized by anglers and seafood lovers: wild king salmon. Reeling in a fish "feels good every time," but this year has been surprisingly good, said Bates,...
California Crab Fisheries to Close Early to Protect Whales
SAN FRANCISCO — California crab fisheries will close for the season in April when whales are feeding off the state's coast as part of an effort to keep Dungeness crab fishery gear from killing protected whales, officials announced Tuesday. The April 15 closure, three months before the crab fishing season...
Grizzly Bears in California? The Dream Lives.
In 2014, an environmental group began a "Bring Back the Bears" petition drive in California that has attracted almost 20,000 signatures. Additionally, research shows that a section along the crest of the Sierra could support between 48 and 108 grizzly bears. State Fish & Wildlife Opposes Grizzly Reintroduction But the California...