Red Knots at Further Risk Following NJ Decision

On the evening of February 11, by a vote of 5-4, the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council rejected the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's proposed moratorium on the harvest of horseshoe crabs.  Conservationists will now ask New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine to order an emergency moratorium on horseshoe crab harvest to prevent the Red Knot from sliding closer to extinction.  The rufa subspecies of the Red Knot migrates to the Delaware Bay each spring after flying non-stop from Brazil . Red Knots rely on a superabundance of excess horseshoe crab eggs to nearly double their body weight in less than 2 weeks, before flying non-stop to their breeding grounds in the Arctic . 

"The Council's veto of a moratorium on the harvest of horseshoe crabs will push the rufa Red Knot ever closer to the sharp edge of extinction's knife," said Darin Schroeder , American Bird Conservancy's Executive Director of Conservation Advocacy.  "It is my sincere hope that Governor Corzine will immediately use his executive authority to take emergency action and save this magnificent bird for future generations of Americans." 

Each year, birdwatchers flock to Delaware Bay to see the spectacular shorebird migration, providing enjoyment to thousands of people and tremendous economic benefit to New Jersey . Conservationists  are watching closely to see whether the benefits to a small handful of harvesters will be given preference over broader public economic and environmental interests. For more information on the Red Knot click here .