The catch in the lagoon dropped from 3.2 million pounds in 1997 to 1.1 million pounds last year, a loss of 1.7 million dollars. There are several theories as to why. Some say it’s just a natural cycle. Others blame too many traps in the water. Dan Clymer, a crabber, believes the blue crabs are clinging to the top because they can’t breathe. He watches the lagoon turn a soupy reddish brown each summer. Excess fertilizer from lawns triggers too much algae, making bad crab years even worse. A series of workshops across the state could yield a proposal for fewer traps in the water, or other new rules for crabbers. Nate Price, owner of Pineda Bait and Tackle in Melbourne said the increasing number of houses along the lagoon over the years has clouded the water with runoff, wilting seagrass that blue crabs need to survive. Commercial landings of crabs have dropped statewide. Researchers from the Florida Marine Research Institute are studying blue crabs in Tampa Bay this year to try to learn more about the species population dynamics.