| Horseshoe
crabs, Limulus polyphemus, provide the backdrop for one
of the most interesting marine resource management issues along
the Atlantic coast. They play a vital ecological role in the migration
of shorebirds along the entire Atlantic seaboard, as well as providing
bait for commercial American eel and conch fisheries along the coast.
Additionally, their unique blood is used by the biomedical industry
to produce Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate (LAL), an important tool in
the detection of contaminants in patients, drugs and other medical
supplies. The challenge of fisheries managers is to ensure that
horseshoe crabs are managed to meet all these diverse needs, while
conserving the resource for its self-perpetuation.
Little is
known about the status of the horseshoe crab population. Limited
time-series of horseshoe crab population data make it difficult
to assess its status. However, data from multiple lines of evidence
indicate that the Delaware Bay horseshoe crab population is experiencing
positive population growth. In 2000, the Commission established
state-by-state quotas in all Atlantic states for crabs harvested
for bait. In 2006, the Commission further reduced quotas in New
Jersey and Delaware and added additional protection in Maryland
and Virginia to increase horseshoe crab and egg abundance in and
around Delaware Bay in response to decreasing migratory shorebird
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