Interstate Fisheries Management

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, through Addendum IV 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 populations. Addendum V, approved in 2008, and further Horseshoe Crab Management Board action extends the provisions of Addendum IV through October 2010. <species profile> < stock status> <habitat fact sheet>

Contacts Braddock Spear, Senior FMP Coordinator for Policy Management Board Chair, Spud Woodward Technical Committee Chair, Michael Millard Advisory Panel Chair, Dr. James Cooper		Management Plans & Actions Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Horseshoe Crab (December 1998) Addendum I (April 2000) Addendum II (May 2001) Addendum III (May 2004) Addendum IV (June 2006) Horseshoe Crab Addendum V (September 2008) Economic Assessment of Mid-Atlantic Horseshoe Crab and Dependent Fisheries including a Qualittative Discussion of the Potential Effects of Addendum IV (February 2008)
Upcoming Meetings 10/1: ASMFC Horseshoe Crab Technical, Holiday Inn - Inner Harbor, 301 West Lombard Street, Baltimore, Maryland. 10/2: Joint meeting of the ASMFC Horseshoe Crab Technical Committee and the USFWS Shorebird Technical Committee, Holiday Inn - Inner Harbor, 301 West Lombard Street, Baltimore, Maryland. *11/17 - 20:* ASMFC Horseshoe Crab Stock Assessment External Peer Review, Holiday Inn - Inner Harbor, 301 West Lombard Street, Baltimore, Maryland; (410) 685-3500. For more information, please contact Patrick Campfield.		Annual Reports FMP Reviews NEW: 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2003 2002 2001 Stock Assessment Reports 2004 NEW: ASMFC Horseshoe Crab Technical Committee Report on Horseshoe Crab Stock Status Terms of Reference Report for the Stock Assessment of Atlantic Coast Horseshoe Crabs: A Proposed Framework (January 2006) Terms of Reference & Advisory Report for the Horseshoe Crab Stock Assessment Peer Review (December 1998) Horseshoe Crab Stock Assessment Report for Peer Review (December 1998) State-by-State Regulations
Pending Actions for Public Input		Meeting & Minutes Summaries Horseshoe Crab Board Proceedings (May 2009)
Press Releases Horseshoe Crab Benchmark Assessment Indicates Increased Abundance in the Southeast and Delaware Bay Region and Decreased Abundance in New York and New England (February 4, 2010) Horseshoe Crab Board Extends Addendum V Provisions to Fall 2010 (August 29, 2009) Board Approves Horseshoe Crab Addendum V: Addendum Maintains Current Management Program Through Fall 2009 (August 22, 2008) States Schedule Hearings on Draft Horseshoe Crab Addendum V: Public Comment Accepted Until July 18, 2008 (June 25, 2008) ASMFC Horseshoe Crab Board Approves Draft Addendum V for Public Comment (May 8, 2008) ASMFC Horseshoe Crab Initiates Development of Draft Addendum V (February 8, 2008) Horseshoe Crab Board Approves Addendum IV: Addendum Calls for Additional Restrictions in Delaware Bay Region (May 10, 2006) Horseshoe Crab Board Approves Draft Addendum for Public Comment: Addendum Considers Additional Harvest Reductions (February 23, 2006) ASMFC Horseshoe Crab Board Initiates Development of Addendum to Consider Harvest Reductions (November 3, 2005) ASMFC Horseshoe Crab Board Approves Addendum III: NJ, DE, and MD Further Reduce Landings (March 10, 2004)