Governor suspends fishing and crabbing

Brian Hoffman
San Francisco Chronicle
11/13/2007

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger issued an executive order late this morning suspending all fishing and crabbing for human consumption in areas affected by the Cosco Busan fuel spill until at least Dec. 1.

The ban includes all of San Francisco Bay, along with affected shorelines, coastlines and waters of San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Mateo, Solano and Sonoma counties.

The recommendation comes from several state agencies, including the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and Department of Fish and Game.

"The governor does not want anyone fishing or crabbing in these waters until the Department of Fish and Game deems the area safe," said Aaron McLear, Schwarzenegger's press secretary.

The decision confirms that the local commercial crabbers will not set gear before Dec. 1. Crabbers from San Francisco and Marin counties, as well as Half Moon Bay and Bodega Bay, already had voted to delay their opener.