Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill authored by state Sen. Noreen Evans that is designed to even the playing field in California’s competitive Dungeness crab industry. The bill, SB 369, sets crab trap limits in an effort to prevent out-of-state fishermen from gaining unfair advantage in the pursuit of the prized crustacean.

State Sen. Noreen Evans has introduced a bill that many North Coast fishermen hope will lead to a limit on the amount of traps fishermen can set in the waters for Dungeness crab. Local crab fishermen complain that larger boats are coming down from the North and scooping up vast quantities early in the season, leaving less for the smaller boats to catch.