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The blob's lasting impact on West Coast crab fishing

deyerle
Jerimiah Oetting
/
KAZU News
Calder Deyerle, a fisherman who operates out of Moss Landing harbor aboard his boat, the Sea Harvester

Nearly a decade ago, a massive blob of warm water formed off the U.S. West Coast, disrupting the ocean ecosystem. Among “the blob’s” many impacts, the region’s highly profitable crab fishery was forever changed. Scientists say extreme marine heatwaves will become more common due to climate change, leaving many in fishing communities, like those in the Monterey Bay region, struggling to adapt to the new uncertainty.

Jerimiah Oetting served in the capacity of news director, reporter and on-air host at KAZU from June 2021 to August 2024.