Today, November 10th, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission will vote about lifting a ban on the harvest of female Horseshoe Crabs to be used as bait primarily for eels and whelks in Delaware Bay. Since this protection was established in 2013 the population of the Bay's female crabs has rebounded from an estimated 6 million to 11.2 million. With this increase in crab numbers there is a corresponding and important increase in crab eggs which are a vital food source for migrating shore birds including the endangered Red Knot.
The crab spawning season coincides with the annual shorebird migration. These birds' long-distance migration which may begin in southern Argentina and end in their breeding grounds in the Canadian Arctic is possible due to the crab eggs which enables them to regain weight en route. With Red Knot numbers at just 30% of their baseline rate the proposed take of 150,000 female crabs which lay 90,000 or more eggs per spawning season could impact their survival. Without enough eggs conservationists say that many of the birds will die on their way to the breeding grounds or if they make it will not have enough energy to breed.
As outlined in a recent study the horseshoe crab harvest management has stabilized populations but progress to recovery is limited by impacts from fishing bycatch, collection and release of crabs for the biomedical industry where a 15% mortality rate is estimated and other issues such has habitat destruction.
