Horseshoe Crab Protection Act
Horseshoe crabs have existed for more than 350 million years. We see them spawning on our East End beaches and in the waters where children play. Their eggs serve as a vital food source to migratory shorebirds and numerous fish species. Horseshoe crabs play a vital role in our marine ecosystem, but now, their populations are declining at a rapid pace.
Harvesting for bait and biomedical purposes, along with habitat loss, are having a profound impact on our local horseshoe crab population. Here on Long Island, there is a documented population decline with no end in sight. While horseshoe crabs have played an integral role in the biomedical and commercial fishery industries, it has been to their detriment. Alternatives for biomedical use of horseshoe crab blood exist and have become mainstream. If alternatives are not utilized for commercial bait, the horseshoe crab population will likely continue to decline beyond repair. What impacts might this have on the fishery industry if action isn’t taken?
In February 2024, the Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to list the Atlantic horseshoe crab as an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.
In 2023, Connecticut adopted stringent regulations to help boost populations for conservation purposes. Data has shown that when one area strengthens its regulations, other areas experience an increase in harvest rates. As New York and Connection share Long Island Sound, we see how critical it is for New York to follow suit and enact a similar ban. We cannot allow this ecologically-important species to face extinction.
In June 2024, the New York State Legislature banned horseshoe crab harvesting for fishing and biomedical use. Now, the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act (S.3185A/A.10140) is headed to New York State Governor Kathy Hochul’s desk to be signed into law this fall.
WHAT YOU CAND DO
Write or call Governor Hochul:
The Honorable Kathy Hochul
Governor of New York State
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224
Find a sample letter to Governor Hochul here.
