Horseshoe Crab Take Restrictions

Horseshoe Crab. Photo: USFWS

In May 2006, following significant pressure from ABC and other members of the conservation community, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) imposed new restrictions on the take of horseshoe crabs. These restrictions were adopted in an effort to increase horseshoe crab egg availability for migratory shorebirds, especially the Red Knot.

The new regulations adopted by the ASMFC include reducing the horseshoe crab take quota for New Jersey and Delaware by 33% to 100,000 each. Furthermore, only males are allowed to be taken, and the season is delayed until June 7-after the spawning season ends.

The regulations also prohibit the directed take and landings of horseshoe crabs in Maryland from January to June 7. Virginia is prohibited from landing horseshoe crabs from federal waters from January to June 7, and its landings must have a 2:1 male to female ratio.

The ASMFC did not impose a moratorium on New Jersey and Delaware despite being requested to do so by those states with the support of the conservation community. However, New Jersey is implementing a moratorium on its own.