Horseshoe Crab Protection Act

Sep 17

Horseshoe crab with shells and barnacles on the beach heading toward the ocean during sunset

Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act into law.

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 their populations have declined at a rapid pace.

Harvesting for bait and biomedical purposes, along with habitat loss, has had a profound impact on our local horseshoe crab population. Here on Long Island, there is a documented population decline. 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.

In February 2024, the Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the National Oceanic and 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 Connecticut share Long Island Sound, we saw how critical it was for New York to follow suit and enact a similar ban. We couldn’t 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. But despite bipartisan support in the New York State Legislature, input from numerous reputable science organizations, thousands of letters of support from concerned New Yorkers, and even a letter from Jane Goodall, Governor Kathy Hochul vetoed the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act on December 13, 2024.

While the Group was disappointed that New York failed to protect the horseshoe crabs, we were not deterred.

Shortly after  the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk released a report   in 2025 revealed a severe population decline in the horseshoe crab population in Long Island Sound, new bills were reintroduced in the Senate (S.4289) and Assembly (A.4997). And in June, both bills passed with overwhelming support!  They were then sent to Governor Hochul’s desk.

The Group proudly supported these bills and advocated for Governor Hochul’s support. You can read more about our efforts in our newsletter.

In December 2025, Governor Hochul signed the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act into law!

The act implements a three-year phase-out, which reduces the annual harvest quota each year, with a complete ban on all commercial harvesting of horseshoe crabs by the year 2029.

This victory is the result of one of New York’s largest conservation campaigns. We are grateful to our elected leaders, fellow conservation groups, and thousands of New Yorkers who stood up with the Group to protect an animal that’s been here for 350 million years, but will never be able to speak up for itself.