SALEM, Ore.— The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted new regulations today aimed at reducing whale entanglements in the state’s commercial Dungeness crab fishery. The measures include requirements for electronic vessel monitoring and experimental fishing permits that will facilitate the testing of whale-safe, pop-up fishing gear.

“I’m pleased that Oregon is taking action to address these horrible whale entanglements, and I hope to see more progress soon,” said Ben Grundy, an oceans campaigner at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Testing pop-up gear in the Oregon commercial crab fishery is a big step toward preventing whale entanglements and has worked well in other places. Nobody likes seeing whales suffer, and we have the tools we need to keep it from happening.”

NOAA Fisheries and state officials confirmed 20 whale entanglements involving Oregon crab gear between 2013 and 2025. Fifteen entanglements have occurred since the state's existing entanglement prevention measures were put in place. In 2026 thus far, two humpback whale entanglements have involved Oregon crab gear. The most recent case involved a young humpback whale who, despite being disentangled in late July, is not expected to survive because of the seriousness of the animal’s injuries. Most whale entanglements are ultimately fatal.

“Only about one in five whale entanglements are documented, meaning the actual toll is far higher than reported,” said Ben Enticknap, fisheries campaign director at Oceana. “We commend the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission for adopting new rules to monitor the crab fishery and facilitate the testing of pop-up gear, but the increasing number of entanglements makes clear that the state must adopt additional conservation measures to reduce the number of vertical ropes left in the ocean for weeks on end, and close areas to conventional crab gear when the whales are feeding off our coast.”

Pop-up fishing gear eliminates the persistent lines that connect traps on the seafloor to surface buoys and commonly cause whale and sea turtle entanglements. The California commercial Dungeness crab fishery has been testing pop-up gear with positive results.

In December the state of California officially authorized the use of pop-up gear in the fishery in the spring season, when the fishery would otherwise be closed to protect whales. Twenty vessels successfully fished crab with it this spring and summer.

Electronic monitoring systems will help provide the state with more accurate information about entanglement risk. Currently, fishers can report lost fishing gear, the location of crab traps, and number of pounds of crab caught through paper logbooks, which can take up to two years to be analyzed. Expanding electronic monitoring could improve the accuracy of self-reported data, making it simpler to track compliance.

“Oregon’s whales are in trouble, and people deserve to eat crab that’s been caught without harming these remarkable animals,” said Francine Kershaw, Ph.D., a senior scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “Oregon’s decision to begin testing whale-safe pop-up fishing gear in the state’s commercial Dungeness crab fishery and to improve fleet monitoring is a positive change that will help inform future management actions to reduce entanglement risk.”

“Today’s decision is an encouraging step toward both conserving Oregon’s beloved marine wildlife populations and reducing the suffering caused when whales and sea turtles become entangled in fishing gear,” said Melissa Edmonds, marine scientist at the Animal Welfare Institute. “Entanglements can cause agonizing, life-threatening injuries, infections, prolonged starvation, and drowning. Meaningful measures to reduce vertical lines in the water are essential to addressing this crisis.”

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife anticipates accepting applications to test pop-up gear starting in spring 2027.