Spare the ancient creature? As of there is a horseshoe crab shortage?
AI Overview
Horseshoe Crab - Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
Yes, there are concerns about a horseshoe crab shortage, as populations are declining in many areas due to factors like habitat loss and overharvesting, leading to petitions for federal protection. While some regional data is stable or improving, scientists remain concerned about the long-term health of the species.
Evidence of a shortage
Population decline: Scientists are observing annual population declines of 2-9% in some areas like the Long Island Sound.
Vulnerable status: The American horseshoe crab is listed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Conservation efforts: Multiple groups have petitioned the government to list the American horseshoe crab as an endangered species, citing decades of population crashes.
Contributing factors to the decline
Overharvesting: Horseshoe crabs are harvested for use as fishing bait and for their blood, which is used in the biomedical industry.
Habitat loss: Coastal habitat loss and degradation are major threats.
Bycatch: They are also sometimes caught unintentionally as bycatch in other fisheries.
Climate change: Climate change is also a factor contributing to their decline.
Insufficient management: In some regions, management practices are not considered sufficient to protect the populations.
Regional variations
Stable areas: Data from some areas, like New York, show stable or improving populations due to conservation measures, with a significant decrease in harvesting levels in recent years, National Fisherman.
Declining areas: Other regions, like the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s New York region, show poor stock status, while the Northeast and Delaware Bay are listed as stable and good, respectively.
I haven’t seen a horseshoe crab here on the west Florida Gulf Coast in over 40 years...........
Yes. I don’t think there is a horseshoe crab shortage nor does this endanger them.