Two California commercial Dungeness crab fishermen have had their licenses, and vessel permits suspended following investigations into nearly 200 abandoned crab traps off Del Norte County.

The California Fish and Game Commission, acting on recommendations from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), suspended the commercial fishing licenses of Darryl Donovan, 66, of Gilroy, and Terry Groat, 60, of Crescent City, for two years. The Commission suspended their Dungeness crab vessel permits for four years.

The Commission took the action during its Aug. 12-13 meeting.

CDFW wildlife officers began investigating abandoned Dungeness crab traps off the Klamath River following the 2023-24 commercial season. The investigation began with a joint patrol involving CDFW's Marine Enforcement District and U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Humboldt Bay.

Officers eventually located what CDFW described as large amounts of abandoned gear belonging to Donovan. According to the agency, violations included abandoning at least 107 Dungeness crab traps, failing to service traps within the required 96 hours, failing to submit mandatory fishing reports, and fishing with untagged and improperly marked buoys.

Following the 2024-25 season, wildlife officers investigated additional strings of abandoned traps belonging to Groat off the mouth of the Smith River.

CDFW said Groat abandoned 87 Dungeness crab traps and failed to service traps within the required 96 hours. Other violations included fishing with untagged buoys, failing to submit mandatory fishing reports and permitting, or causing the waste of hundreds of Dungeness crabs.

CDFW said removing traps at the end of each commercial season is particularly important because derelict gear can trap or entangle marine mammals and other wildlife.

The agency also pointed to the potential consequences for the broader fleet, saying abandoned traps can contribute to shortened fishing seasons for fishermen who comply with regulations and depend on those fishing opportunities for their livelihoods.

CDFW said its wildlife officers and the California Fish and Game Commission will continue reviewing commercial fishing violations and taking administrative action when warranted.