Commercial crayfish harvest policies changing

The potential to commercially harvest crayfish from the California side of Lake Tahoe is in the works.

Nevada has allowed this for a couple years. But California had a law preventing the sale or purchase of crayfish taken from Lake Tahoe. Gov. Jerry Brown on Sept. 6 repealed that law. Next up is for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife to allow the commercial harvest.

Scientists say crayfish are contributing to the lake’s loss of clarity. So by allowing commercial fishing of them, it may help improve lake clarity.

 — Lake Tahoe News staff report