Meeting to discuss upcoming changes to Hoop net regulations

From CDFW Email:

Due to the increased use of hoop nets during the Dungeness crab season and recent interest in modified hoop net designs, the California Fish and Game Commission will consider taking emergency action at its upcoming meeting on October 13, 2022. The proposed regulation changes, which would amend subsection 29.80(b), Title 14, California Code of Regulations, are intended to clarify hoop net requirements, add consistency, and to minimize the risk of marine life entanglement with hoop nets. If approved, the regulations would take effect in time for the recreational Dungeness crab season start date of November 5, 2022 and are not expected to impact the ongoing use of hoop nets in the recreational lobster fishery.
Proposed Hoop Net Regulation Change Webinar on October 6, 2022
The following hoop net regulation changes are addressed by this emergency action:
Clarify that the hoop net service interval requirement of two hours applies statewide
Add that non-metallic soft mesh must be used in hoop net types A and B
Amend requirements of type B hoop nets to restrict the number of rings from three to two (not including the bait ring), adding that the rigid support arms must be "straight", and prohibit any additional openings
Add that the use of a surface buoy and buoy marking requirements apply statewide to include hoop nets used north of Point Arguello and that only one operator's GO ID # is required to be legibly marked on the surface buoy (would not include hoop nets used from shore)
If you are interested or have questions, please join us on October 6, 2022 from 4:30pm to 6:00pm to discuss the background and purpose of these proposed hoop net regulation changes.

Sounds like some people were getting really creative with their homemade hoop nets.

Sounds like some people were getting really creative with their homemade hoop nets.

i think its actually the ones being sold. www.customcrabpots.com

This seller has been selling all sorts of weird things that these rules seems to address explicitly.   The seller removed them off the e-commerce site already but here's pics i have from the social media pages.

See the pictured funnels, rings, rigid metal mesh, and trap doors on these "Hoops"...

Saw a boat in the HMB harbor that had gigantic metallic rings stacked on board and thought about them immediately after reading this.

Sounds like some people were getting really creative with their homemade hoop nets.

i think its actually the ones being sold. www.customcrabpots.com

This seller has been selling all sorts of weird things that these rules seems to address explicitly.   The seller removed them off the e-commerce site already but here's pics i have from the social media pages.

See the pictured funnels, rings, rigid metal mesh, and trap doors on these "Hoops"...

Wow they got really creative. 

Sounds like some people were getting really creative with their homemade hoop nets.

i think its actually the ones being sold. www.customcrabpots.com

This seller has been selling all sorts of weird things that these rules seems to address explicitly.   The seller removed them off the e-commerce site already but here's pics i have from the social media pages.

See the pictured funnels, rings, rigid metal mesh, and trap doors on these "Hoops"...

Wow they got really creative.

If these abide by the regs (until proposed changes are enacted), I say more power to them for being creative while also following the rules. imagine some gray areas had to have been skirted though....