Horseshoe Crab Harvest.pdf

Charles River Laboratories, a $16 billion biomedical company, proposes to pay $500,000 for permission to expand its horseshoe crab harvesting territory in South Carolina. The company wants to access previously restricted areas, including five islands in the ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve, to collect crabs for their blue blood, which is used to test vaccines and medical devices for bacteria.

Environmentalists and scientists are concerned that the expansion could endanger a threatened migratory bird and harm the crab population. The company has been accused of misleading the public about its environmental impact and the existence of synthetic alternatives to the crab-derived products. Two of the company's competitors already manufacture and sell synthetic alternatives, which have been approved by the FDA.

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is evaluating the proposal, but a spokesperson stated that the agency does not have the authority to grant the requested "biomedical research license." Governor Henry McMaster has met with the company and expressed interest in finding a solution that meets the demand for horseshoe crab blood while protecting the crab population and ecosystems.

Charles River has been criticized for its past actions, including illegally harvesting crabs from a national wildlife refuge, and for presenting itself as an environmentally conscious partner while seeking to remove sustainability protections. The company has spent money to sponsor conservation nonprofits and purchase affiliations, but has been accused of lacking transparency in its dealings with these groups.