Education

Horseshoe Crab Conservation
Other Conservation Initiatives

There are many other conservation initiatives that are being explored in addition to the management tools like the FMP. These efforts are listed below.

  • Delaware and New Jersey are conducting studies on the density of horseshoe crab eggs on Delaware Bay beaches during the spring spawning season.
  • The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is conducting a tagging survey of horseshoe crabs to determine their movement, spawning frequency and spawning behavior.
  • The University of Delaware is developing a synthetic attractant for the eel and whelk fisheries. This compound could reduce the use of horseshoe crabs as bait.
  • Watermen in Delaware are experimenting with bait bags to extend the amount of time the bait will last and reduce the size of bait used the by ¾. One individual is also experimenting with an alternative whelk pot design to extend the useful life of the bait.
  • Biomedical firms are developing a synthetic form of LAL to test the sterility of medical products.
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    Additional references.