Wild Shorebirds and Horseshoe Crab Harvesting

Migrating shorebirds including red knots depend on Delaware Bay horseshoe crab eggs as a critical fuel source — industrial horseshoe crab harvesting has caused dramatic population declines in both species.

Key Facts

Red knot populations declined by 75% between 1980 and 2015 largely due to food shortages
Horseshoe crabs are harvested for biomedical use and as bait — over 2 million annually
Delaware Bay hosts the largest horseshoe crab spawning aggregation in the world
Without adequate fat reserves from crab eggs, birds cannot complete Arctic migration
Regulated harvesting reductions have allowed partial recovery of both crabs and knots

Welfare Considerations

Individual shorebirds that arrive at Delaware Bay and fail to find sufficient horseshoe crab eggs face a welfare crisis: unable to accumulate the fat reserves needed for the remaining 3,000-mile flight to Arctic breeding grounds, they face starvation, exhaustion, and death. Emaciated birds attempting to continue migration without adequate fuel die en route. The welfare consequences of horseshoe crab over-harvesting cascade through the entire ecosystem of dependent migratory species.

What You Can Do

Support harvest restrictions on horseshoe crabs in Delaware Bay
Back research into synthetic alternatives to horseshoe crab blood in biomedical testing
Participate in horseshoe crab spawning counts and citizen science programs
Donate to Manomet and other shorebird conservation organizations
Advocate for federal protection listings for severely declining shorebird species