Horseshoe Crabs.pdf

Horseshoe crabs are being counted from Florida to Maine due to concerns over their declining population, which affects migratory shorebirds that feed on their eggs. Volunteers, including those from the Shark River Cleanup Coalition, are using methods developed in Delaware Bay to count the crabs. The crabs come into shallow coastal bays to spawn during spring months, and the counts are typically done during the full and new moon phases.

The Shark River count started with a couple of Scouts and has since become an annual event, with volunteers using a 3-meter grid to pace off areas and count the crabs. The data collected is managed by state agencies and universities, and is used to understand horseshoe crab populations and manage them sustainably.

Horseshoe crabs are important to the food chain, and their eggs are a crucial food source for shorebirds. The conservation efforts are part of a new wave of people applying conservation principles to the marine environment, with groups like the Shark River coalition putting the resource first. The decline of horseshoe crab populations was linked to their increasing harvest for commercial fishing bait, but restrictions have been put in place to protect them.

The crabs are also being tagged to track their movements and determine if there is a distinct population in the Shark River. The tagging team popped over 400 tags onto crab shells last year, and are waiting to see if any of the tagged crabs return. The conservation of horseshoe crabs is gaining attention, with people appreciating them for their own sake, rather than just their role in the ecosystem.