Lots of speculation running from "normal" population cycles to acidification to abnormally high water temps or, worse yet, some combination of those factors.

Bottom line is that there have been a series of weak or failed Dungeness spawn events with little to no age class recruitment. It is not apparent that red rock have had the same problem which further confuses the situation.

I believe I am correct in saying that the closures are an effort to maintain some breeding potential particularly in those more marginal areas.