California officers find 194 abandoned crab traps, hundreds of crabs wasted

Two commercial fishermen have had their licences suspended and vessel permits revoked for four years after wildlife officers recovered 194 abandoned Dungeness crab traps from waters off the Del Norte County coast. The enforcement action, finalised during an August meeting of the California Fish and Game Commission, involved 66-year-old Darryl Donovan of Gilroy and 60-year-old Terry Groat of Crescent City. The two men were investigated over abandoned commercial fishing gear found in Northern California waters during two consecutive fishing seasons. According to reporting by Patch, state wildlife officials recommended the penalties after finding serious violations. The abandoned equipment had resulted in hundreds of Dungeness crabs being wasted and also created entanglement risks for marine wildlife.