In response to the dwindling season, crab fishermen and scientists have been working furiously to come up with solutions to the problem.

One new high-tech design being tested bundles the ropes with crab pots so that the ropes pop up to the surface only when triggered by a timer or a sound alert sent from fishing boats so crews can quickly retrieve the pots.

But two veteran Bay Area fishermen, Brand Little and Steve Melz, have also come up with a potential low-tech solution already available in their boatyards.

Arguing that developing expensive gadgetry is overthinking the solution, they’ve crafted a simple modification of the traditional crab pot that they say could put the nostalgic delicacy back on holiday menus as soon as next year.

“We have to adapt or die,” Little said.