This webpage was updated on February 28, 2025

Dungeness Crab Task Force Members


DCTF Members

DCTF Commercial Fishing Elections

The California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) carry out DCTF commercial fishing elections as described in Fish and Game Code Section 8276.4. Commercial fishermen are elected to the DCTF by their peers to represent their home port complexes and production level. DCTF elections shall be held every three years in each port, on a staggered basis across ports. 

The results of the DCTF Commercial Fishing Elections are available in the current DCTF Member List. Future election processes are anticipated to follow a similar process as described below. 

DCTF Election Process and Timelines

Elections are generally carried out with two separate mailings: 

  1. Mailing #1: Nomination Form: All valid California Dungeness crab permitholders receive a form in the mail to nominate individuals for the DCTF. 
  • Mailing #2: Ballot: Ballots are compiled from the list of nominees. Permitholders from Crescent City, Trinidad, Fort Bragg (includes all ports in Mendocino County), San Francisco, and South of Half Moon Bay will receive a ballot in 2025. Votes tallied from these ballots will determine the members who serve on the DCTF representing these port complexes. 

2025 DCTF Election Documents 

Nomination Forms are due Friday, April 11, 2025. 

Group 1 Ports: Elections in 2025
If your vessel’s registered home port is in any of the following port complexes, you are eligible to vote in the Group 1 DCTF elections in 2019, 2022, 2025, and 2028: 

  • Crescent City (includes all California ports north of Trinidad) 
  • Trinidad 
  • Fort Bragg (includes all ports in Mendocino County) 
  • San Francisco (includes ports from within San Francisco Bay) 
  • South of Half Moon Bay (includes all ports from Monterey Bay south) 

Group 2 Ports: Elections in 2026
If your vessel’s registered home port is in any of the following port complexes, you are eligible to vote in the Group 2 DCTF elections in 2020, 2023, and 2026: 

  • Eureka (includes Shelter Cove and all ports within Humboldt Bay) 
  • Bodega Bay (includes Bolinas and all ports within Tomales Bay) 
  • Half Moon Bay 
  • Non-resident California Dungeness crab permitholder (includes all out-of-state vessel port registrations designated as Unknown) 

DCTF Non-Commercial Fishing Seat Appointments 

Section 8276.4 of the Fish and Game Code states that seven members are appointed to the DCTF by the Chair of the Ocean Protection Council following a public solicitation for nominations. These seven members represent sport fishing, crab processing, commercial passenger fishing vessel, nongovernmental organization interests, and are as follows: 

  • One voting (1) and one nonvoting (1) member representing sport fishing interests. 
  • Two voting (2) members representing crab processing interests. 
  • One voting (1) member representing commercial passenger fishing vessel interests. 
  • Two nonvoting (2) members representing nongovernmental organization interests. 

Those appointed to represent non-commercial fishing seats are included in the current DCTF Member List. 

Call for Nominations

OPC is currently seeking nominations for the following non-commercial fishing representatives on the Dungeness Crab Task Force (DCTF):

  • One voting (1) and one nonvoting (1) member representing sport fishing interests
  • One voting (1) member representing crab processing interests
  • One nonvoting (1) member representing nongovernmental organization interests

If you are interested in representing sport fishing, crab processing, or nongovernmental organization interests on the DCTF, complete this online nomination form by Friday, April 11, 2025 at 5:00 pm. Please direct any questions to Katie Cieri, katie.cieri@resources.ca.gov.

After OPC staff have reviewed nominees, they will recommend representatives for appointment to the Chair of the Ocean Protection Council, Secretary of Natural Resources, Wade Crowfoot. Recommendations will be based on experience and knowledge of the Dungeness crab fishery, experience with the DCTF, geographical balance, willingness and ability to effectively and respectfully collaborate among diverse perspectives, willingness and ability to represent others within their representative seat, and ability to consistently participate in DCTF meetings. OPC staff may contact nominees for brief interviews if needed. Representatives are anticipated to be notified before the end of August in advance of the next DCTF meeting planned for mid-October. Read the full solicitation. 

The DCTF also includes nonvoting representatives from CDFW and California Sea Grant. Two nonvoting (2) members representing CDFW are appointed by CDFW. One nonvoting (1) representative of University of California Sea Grant is appointed by University of California Sea Grant. 

DCTF Contact 

To stay informed about upcoming elections, meetings, and other DCTF related activities, sign up for the DCTF email list. Please direct all questions and comments to info@dungenesscrabtaskforce.com. 

 

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