The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has approved the first-ever state-authorized on-demand fishing gear for use in California’s commercial Dungeness crab fishery, marking a significant step forward in efforts to reduce marine life entanglement risk.
CDFW supports the development and testing of fishing gear modifications and innovations aimed at lowering the risk of entanglement with Dungeness crab fishing gear. Currently, the state offers two primary pathways for testing and using innovative or experimental fishing gear: Experimental Fishing Permits (EFPs) and alternative gear authorization.
Under the state’s Risk Assessment and Mitigation Program, alternative gear authorization establishes a process for certifying innovative gear types that reduce entanglement risk. Once authorized by the CDFW director, alternative gear may be used between April 1 and the closure of the commercial Dungeness crab statutory season in areas that would otherwise be closed to traditional crab fishing.
As of January 2026, CDFW has approved one alternative gear authorization: Sub Sea Sonics. The authorization was issued as a conditional approval on Dec. 23, 2025, along with general alternative gear conditions.
According to a news release from Sub Sea Sonics, the company was informed by CDFW on Dec. 5, 2025, that its on-demand pop-up fishing system, which was developed in partnership with Guardian Ropeless, had been approved for use during spring closures related to entanglement risk. The authorization covers the same gear configuration used during testing, including Sub Sea Sonics AR4RT and AR4RT+ release units and Guardian Ropeless line-handling sleds.
The gear underwent more than three years of testing led by commercial crabbers, with support from CDFW, the California Fish and Game Commission, NOAA, gear developers, and non-governmental organizations. Full-scale testing in spring 2025 included 1,163 gear sets, with a reported reliability rate exceeding 98 percent, resulting in more than 217,000 pounds of crab valued at an estimated $1.4 million, according to the release.
CDFW recommends that fishermen interested in applying for the alternative gear authorization contact Whale Safe Fisheries and consult with the department prior to applying to better understand the process, timelines, and required materials.
