Horseshoe crabs within the Long Island Sound could also be headed for extinction, research finds

A new study taking a look at horseshoe crabs within the Long Island Sound confirms the traditional creatures face potential extinction. 

The risk stems from local weather change, lack of habitat, and overharvesting. 

Horseshoe crabs are neither cute nor cuddly, however they’re a vital a part of the Long Island Sound’s ecosystem. Despite their title, horseshoe crabs are usually not crabs, and even crustaceans. They’re associated to spiders, they usually’re innocent. They cannot chew, sting, or pinch. They’ve existed for 450 million years.   

Migratory birds feast on their eggs, and horseshoe crab digging amplifies the nutrient cycle. 

“This is an animal that plays an important link in these different habitats, from the shallow water to the deep,” Dr. Sarah Crosby of the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk mentioned. 

Crosby conducts analysis on the creatures, and contributed to the study, which notes horseshoe crab populations within the Long Island Sound are declining 2-9% per 12 months. 

“We’re becoming increasingly concerned about the decline because, despite some efforts to protect them better, we continue to see the population get smaller and smaller,” Crosby mentioned. 

Connecticut banned most harvesting of horseshoe crabs in 2023, however New York permits as much as 150,000 to be captured in 2025 to be used as fishing bait. 

Horseshoe crab blood is efficacious for testing prescription drugs. Advocates say that may be phased out in favor of a brand new, artificial various. 

“For many years, it was sort of a necessary evil, right, for the good of people. But now that this alternative for the horseshoe crab blood exists, we’re really encouraged to see some companies switch over, so they don’t need horseshoe crab blood anymore. So they can keep those animals in the water where they belong,” Crosby mentioned. 

Researchers and volunteers will proceed to observe horseshoe crabs, and advocate for protections to rebuild the diminished inhabitants.