Oregon Crabs Go Ropeless to Shield Whales

Oregon fishery officials plan to let crab boats try ropeless pop‑up traps next spring. The move follows years of rules that limited pot numbers and depth. New rule also asks captains to broadcast their ship’s spot to state managers.

Traditional crab pots sit on the seabed attached to long lines and surface buoys. Whales often snag those lines and can die because they can’t feed. A humpback rescued 20 miles off Oregon in July was badly hurt and unlikely to survive.

The pop‑up system stores the line and buoy with the trap on the floor. A timer or release lets the line unwind and the buoy rise when it’s time to haul the catch. That gives whales a clear path most of the time. The gear is still illegal under current law, but experimental permits could start in spring 2027 and may expand if trials work.

West Coast waters have seen at least 400 whale entanglements from 2015‑2025, with humpbacks hit hardest because their feeding season matches crab season and warm water pushes them closer to shore. Oregon recorded four humpback entanglements in 2025, the highest yearly total. California began testing pop‑up gear in 2023 and found it workable; a San Francisco fisherman said the $1,000 units were worth the investment.