On the West Coast, Dungeness crab is a hallmark of winter holiday feasting.

But this year, unusually high El Nino water temperatures sparked algae blooms that closed off most of California's coastal crab grounds until May.

The algae infects crabs with domoic acid, a neurotoxin that can cause seizures, coma or even death.

Crabmageddon

With no "Dungies"Â for the holiday season and lingering consumer worries about the safety of crab meat, crabbers took a massive hit in income this year.

California's Department of Fish and Wildlife says revenues for the 2015-2016  season were 45 percent below the five-year average.

Even after the fishery opened, summer crab prices were half the per-pound rate of last year.

Lawmakers have applied for federal disaster funds to help crabbers.

The Warm Blob

Ocean temperatures in the so-called "warm blob" were 8 to 10 degrees higher than normal this year.

Temperatures are still higher than average now, but only by about 3 degrees.

The next Dungeness crab season in California doesn't start until November, and government agencies are optimistic that conditions will return to normal by then.

Ain't Broke

Lawmakers have floated new rules that would allow some crab grounds to stay open when "domoic acid levels are high in other areas, instead of shutting down the whole coast.

But some industry groups are skeptical those changes would help.

The San Francisco Crab Boat Owners' Association told Undercurrent News that existing regulations are strong enough to protect consumers.

The group called for better public education about the safety of crab meat, and blasted news media for causing panic about domoic acid.

Read More:

• Outlook Improves For Dungeness Crab Season (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Delayed Dungeness Crab Season Sinks Catch, Sales For California Fishermen (Press Democrat)
• Dungeness Crabbers Question Need For New Rules (Undercurrent News)