Horseshoe Crab Ban.pdf

New Jersey is set to extend its ban on using horseshoe crabs as bait, while commercial fishing advocates argue for a limited harvest of male crabs. The state's Marine Fisheries Council will meet on February 11 to discuss the issue. Biologists are concerned about the decline of red knots, migratory shorebirds that feed on crab eggs, with the population down to 17,000 from an estimated 100,000. However, observers say the horseshoe crab population is stable and growing, with a possible increase in numbers. Fishermen want a wildlife management plan that would allow for a male-only crabbing season, sanctioned under the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. The industry generates $11-15 million annually and employs up to 370 people. Scientists debate the impact of a limited harvest on the crab population's genetic diversity and the red knot population. Shorebird advocates argue that every crab egg is crucial for the birds' survival and that even a limited harvest is too risky.