Date: Thu, 6 Jan 2000 15:42:03 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Les Eastman Organization: Harford Bird Club Subject: Meeting about Horseshoe Crabs MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable This meeting is TODAY, January 6 at 7:00 PM. I hope this is readable. It had attachments when I received it and I moved them into the body. Les -----Original Message----- From: Johnson, Mark S CHPPM [mailto:Mark.Johnson@APG.AMEDD.ARMY.MIL] = Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2000 1:26 PM To: 'Eastman, Les' Subject: FW: Horseshoe Crabs Les, = Could you please forward this message to all you think would be interested? I realize it is short notice, and I cannot attend. I was hoping there would be folks in MOS or others who may be heard at this meeting, given its importance in regulating horeshoe crab populations. Thanks! Mark -----Original Message----- From: Gerald Winegrad [mailto:gwwabc@erols.com] Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2000 1:11 PM To: mark.johnson@amedd.army.mil Subject: Horseshoe Crabs Mark: The horseshoe crab hearing is today, Thursday, Jan 7 at the Salisbury (Wicomico Public Library, 122 South Division Street). Thomas O'Connell of MD DNR will be holding the hearing in Salisbury on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission options for horseshoe crab management on the East Coast. Tom is staff for the ASMFC's Horseshoe Crab Management Board. They have proposed a number of options for protecting the Crab and hearings are being held in six states that have requested them. Plese see if you or another rep of MOS can attend a speak up for the options noted below. Try and have other conservationists attend and to e-mail and mail letters of support for the options that include a 50% reduction in each state's landings, a 1:1 male to feamle sex ratio landings requirement, and a closure of federal waters to all take of horseshoe crabs. Please send written statements to:. Please also submit your comments in writing to Tom for the record for the ASMFC and the Board. His address: MD DNR, Fisheries Service, Tawes State office Bldg, B-2, 580 Taylor Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21401, Fax: 410-260-8278. Deadline is January 21, 2000. A sign-on letter with over 30 national and state groups was sent. MOS signed-on that letter and it is attached as a WP File. Here are two letters one sent by Sierra--Eastern Shore Chapter and one freom the American Birding Association. I hope you will send in a letter for MOS and have any other groups also write in. Deadline is 1/21/00. = *************************************************************************= *** ** Mr. Thomas O'Connell Maryland Department of Natural Resources Tawes State Office Building 580 Taylor Avenue Bldg. Annapolis, MD 21401 4 January 2000 Dear Mr. O'Connell, I will be unable to attend the Horseshoe Crab hearing tomorrow night in Salisbury. I am therefore sending you this e-mail and submitting a written version via the U.S. Mail for the record. We at the American Birding Association believe that the increases in harvest for the Horseshoe Crab for eel and conch bait is shrinking the population of this species. This is affecting the availability of its eggs as a vital food source for migratory shorebirds, particularly in the Delaware Bay. = In Virginia alone, we have seen reported landings increase from 23,247 crabs in 1996-7 to over 1 million in 1998. Unfortunately, this effectively negates the conservation measures already enacted in New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware. The situation in Virginia is a result of a loophole in existing federal and state laws. Meanwhile, the Delaware Bay trawl survey indicates a 74% decline of Horseshoe Crabs in Delaware Bay from 1990 to 1997. On the New Jersey side of the Delaware Bay, Drs. Loveland and Botton's research indicate that the egg quantity has been reduced by 90% since 1990 and their additional report indicates that the days eggs were available has gone down from 70 days in the early 1990's to 30 days in 1998. There is parallel evidence of a disturbing decline in some of the key shorebird populations that are dependent on these Horseshoe Crab eggs. For example, Red Knots are estimated to have declined by over 50% since the mid 1980's. = We therefore urge the ASMFC to act now to adopt the following options: 1. a 50% reduction in Horseshoe Crab harvests 2. a closure of Federal waters 3. and equal 1:1 male to female harvest ratio. = Unfortunately, the proposal for a 25% reduction of very high harvest levels will not adequately protect the Horseshoe Crab and poses a risk to the shorebird dependent on them. Moreover, the transfer of quota among states under any coastwide quota program that is allocated state-by-state would be counterproductive. A final study is worthy of consideration: A work done by Fermata, Inc. for the New Jersey Division of Fish, Game, and Wildlife finds the economic impact of shorebird-related eco-tourism to be between $20.6 million and $34.3 million annually. The growing avi-tourism sector throughout New England and the mid-Atlantic states cannot be ignored, especially when viewed in combination with the possibility of squandering the valuable Horseshoe Crab asset. Please act in favor of responsible wildlife management in this effort to sustain reasonable Horseshoe Crab numbers. Sincerely, Paul J. Baicich Editor, Birding American Birding Association =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D Paul J. Baicich American Birding Association P.O. Box 404 Oxon Hill, MD 20750 *************************************************************************= *** ** January 6, 2000 Mr. Bruce Freeman, Chairman Horseshoe Crab Management Board Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission 1444 Eye Street, N.W., 6th Floor Washington, D.C. 20005 Dear Chairman Freeman: The Eastern Shore Group of the Maryland Chapter, Sierra Club, submits the following comments on the 12/15/99 DRAFT Addendum 1 to the Fishery Management Plan for Horseshoe Crab. The Eastern Shore Group comments represent the opinion of nearly 400 Sierra Club members in the nine counties of Maryland's portion of the Delmarva peninsula. As you know, the Delmarva peninsula, especially that part fronting on Delaware Bay, constitutes the epicenter of horseshoe crab abundance on the East Coast of the United States. As such, horseshoe crabs are an important element of the ecosystems of our region. Because of this, we attach a particular importance to the maintenance of this species in relatively high abundance. = While we are sure the Management Board recognizes the importance of abundant horseshoe crabs to migratory birds, we think it bears further emphasizing that horseshoe crabs constitute a major pathway in the recycling of elements vital to most life processes from marine sub-ecosystems to terrestrial ones. Many of the organisms on which horseshoe crabs prey are filter feeders, deriving their own structural makeup from phytoplankton which have concentrated nutrients from seawater and have captured solar energy. These elements, compounds assembled from them, and the fixed energy associated with them, are returned to terrestrial subsystems in horseshoe crab eggs and carcasses, and are distributed throughout Delmarva and throughout the Atlantic Flyway by birds and other wildlife which feed on them. Such pathways (others may be seen in the migrations of anadromous fish, or the marine upwelling-plankton-fish-bird-guano linkages, for example) are major natural means of replenishing terrestrial soil fertility, operating as they do against the forces of gravity, running water and longterm and human-aggravated soil erosion. Their continued functioning depends upon maintenance of suitably high levels of the organisms serving as mechanisms of transport. We believe that the substantial increases in harvest of the horseshoe crab for eel and conch bait is shrinking the population of horseshoe crabs, as described in the DRAFT Addendum may threaten the continuation of this pathway. We believe that, since the status of the stock is not known, and since "Information is not presently available to establish biological reference points, fishing mortality, rates or recruitment estimates." (DRAFT, p. 2), a highly risk-averse management strategy is warranted. = We therefore support a combination of the options proposed, as follows: Option 4. To establish a state-by-state cap on horseshoe crab bait landings at 50 percent below the reference period landings for all states. Individual state horseshoe crab bait fisheries would be closed once their state's cap is reached. We further propose that Maryland and New Jersey be required to keep present landing restrictions. Option 4, as written, would permit MD fishermen to substantially increase their landings over1998 levels of the Delaware Bay population, by 168 %. It would permit New Jersey fishermen to increase their harvest levels by 25% over 1998. Option 11. Require states to implement a harvest sex ratio of at least 1:1 males to females in any day's harvest. This has been recommended by the management plan technical committee. Option 12. Recommend that the National Marine Fisheries Service close the harvest of horseshoe crabs in federal waters (3-200 miles offshore). = ASMFC should require states to prohibit such landings pending the adoption of federal action. Option 13. Require states to promote and encourage the use of alternative horseshoe crab baits and trap techniques in the conch and eel fisheries. The use of bait bags, apparently well-proven as to their effectiveness, and as to their ability save bait costs in New York, should be mandated We oppose Option 9 that would allow the transfer of quota among states under any coastwide quota program that is allocated state by state. We appreciate the opportunity to comment on the DRAFT Addendum. Please be assured that we shall follow the progress of the Board's deliberations with interest. Sincerely, W. R. Carter,III Chairman Sierra Club-Eastern Shore Chapter PolicyCouncilltr.1299.wpd Name: = PolicyCouncilltr.1299.wpd Type: = Keyview File (application/wordperfect5.1) Encoding: = base64 AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY+AMERICAN BIRDING ASSOCIATION+ASSOCIATION OF FIELD ORNITHOLOGISTS+AUDUBON NATURALIST SOCIETY OF THE CENTRAL ATLANTIC STATES+BIRD CONSERVATION NETWORK+BROOKS BIRD CLUB+ COUNTERPART INTERNATIONAL+DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE+DELMARVA = ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY+ENDANGERED SPECIES RECOVERY COUNCIL = +ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND+ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AT AIRLIE+HAWK MIGRATION ASSOCIATION+THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE U.S.+MARYLAND CONSERVATION COUNCIL+MARYLAND ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY+ MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY+NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY +NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION+NEW JERSEY AUDUBON SOCIETY+ NEW YORK BOTANICAL = GARDEN+PT. REYES BIRD OBSERVATORY+RICHMOND AUDUBON SOCIETY+SAVE INTERNATIONAL+SIERRA CLUB+TENNESSEE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY+TRUMPETER SWAN SOCIETY+VIRGINIA SOCIETY OF ORNITHOLOGY+ WESTERN HEMISPHERE SHOREBIRD RESERVE NETWORK+THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY+WILDLIFE CENTER OF = VIRGINIA+WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY+WORLD WILDLIFE FUND December 21, 1999 To: Chairman Bruce Freeman and Members of the Horseshoe Crab Management Board; ASMFC Members; and Eastern Seaboard Governors = From: Undersigned Conservation Organizations and Conservationists Subject: Horseshoe Crab Management Plan In 1998, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) adopted a Fishery Management Plan for the horseshoe crab. That plan directed that the ASMFC would adopt a coast wide quota for the horseshoe crab in 1999 for the year 2000. This has not occurred although the ASMFC is preparing to publish a series of options in a Public Information Document for such a quota. We believe that the substantial increases in harvest of the horseshoe crab for eel and conch bait is shrinking the population of this ancient species and affecting the availability of its eggs as a food source for migratory shorebirds, particularly in the Delaware Bay. One state alone-Virginia-has increased its reported landings from 23,247 crabs in 1996-7 to over 1 million in 1998, negating conservation measures enacted in NJ, DE, and MD and exploiting a loophole in existing federal and state laws. The Delaware Bay trawl survey conducted by Delaware indicates a 74% decline of horseshoe crabs in Delaware Bay from 1990 to1997. Drs. Loveland and Botton's research on egg availability on Delaware Bay beaches in NJ indicate that the egg quantity has been reduced by 90% since 1990 and their new report indicates that the days eggs were available has been reduced from 70 days in the early 1990's to 30 days in 1998. There is increasing evidence of a serious decline in some of the key shorebird populations that are dependent on crab eggs. For example, Red Knots are thought to have declined by over 50% since the mid 1980's. The time for risk-averse action to protect this late reproducing species is NOW. We urge the ASMFC to adopt the following options: 1) That all states other than NJ, DE and MD shall have a quota at 50% of the reference year landings. 2) That NJ and MD be required to keep present landing restrictions and that DE reduce reference year landings by 25%. (Please note that the measures recommended by the Technical Committee would permit MD and NJ to substantially increase there landings in 2000 of the Delaware Bay population). 3) That a daily catch requirement of at least a 1:1 ratio of males : females shall be established for all landings of horseshoe crabs as recommended by the Technical Committee. 4) That Federal waters be closed to all Horseshoe Crab harvesting until there is adequate population data on Horseshoe Crabs or, if a closure is not supported, that a maximum daily landing limit of 1,000 crabs be established from harvest and landing from trawl vessels in state or Federal waters. = Horseshoe crabs do not reach sexual maturity until 9-10 years of age and are thus very vulnerable to over exploitation. If the ASMFC adopts a true conservation approach and horseshoe crab landings are significantly reduced, eel and conch harvesters will not suffer as innovative use of horseshoe crab bait and alternate baits will occur more rapidly. As the Board heard at its Mystic, CT meeting, conchers in New York have long used bait bags in their pots and thus reduce crab use by over 50%; = Delaware conchers are already using nylon mesh bags, reducing crab use by greater than 50% while increasing catch. A new study near publication on the economic impact of tourism based exclusively on the horseshoe crab/shorebird migration in NJ documents that the economic value of such tourism far exceeds the value of the horseshoe crab fishery. The study done by Fermata, Inc. for the NJ Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife finds the economic impact of this tourism to be between $20.6 million and $34.3 million annually. The ASMFC Horseshoe Crab Stock Assessment Peer Review panel of scientists has cautioned that "A review of fisheries around the world in the past 50 years provides numerous examples of fisheries increasing catch and effort (without necessary data collection) resulting in fishery and population collapses=BC..The panel recommends reversing the increasing trend of catch and effort to substantially lower levels than has been the case in recent years." We urge the Management Board and the ASMFC to follow the Peer Review Panel's recommendations and adopt the measures recommended above to avoid a collapse in horseshoe crab numbers. Sincerely, _______________________________ ______________________________ Richard P. Kane Caroline Kennedy New Jersey Audubon Society Defenders of Wildlife _______________________________ ______________________________ Paul J. Baicich George H. Fenwick, PhD. Association of Field Ornithologists American Bird Conservancy _______________________________ ______________________________ Marcus Koenen Donald R. Dann Bird Conservation Network ________________________________ ______________________________ Bruce Beehler, PhD. Donald Bruning Counterpart International Wildlife Conservation Society PAGE 2 ASMFC HORSESHOE CRAB LETTER = ________________________________ ______________________________ Maria Christina Wurschy Donielle L. Rininger Environmental Studies at Airlie, VA. _________________________________ ______________________________ Patricia C. McElroy Melinda Welton The Humane Society of the U.S. Tennessee Ornithological Society _________________________________ ______________________________ Luis Naranjo, PhD. Donald H. Messersmith, PhD. International Program, American Bird Conservancy Pt. Reyes Bird Observatory _________________________________ ______________________________ John D. Mitchell William J. L. Sladen, M.D. The New York Botanical Garden Trumpeter Swan Society __________________________________ ______________________________ Edward E. Clark, Jr. Jane J. Whitaker Wildlife Center of Virginia Brooks Bird Club __________________________________ ______________________________ Edward J. Gentz, DVM Craig E. Tufts Wildlfie Center of Virginia National Wildlife Federation = ___________________________________ ______________________________ Kerrie Kirkpatrick Daphne W. Gemmill Hawk Migration Association of N. America Audubon Naturalist Society of the Central Atlantic States ___________________________________ ______________________________ Betty Anne Schreiber, PhD. J. Christopher Haney Ornithologist The Wilderness Society = ___________________________________ ____________________________ __ Robert M. Chipley, PhD. Norman C. Saunders Director, U.S. Important Bird Area Program Maryland Ornithological Society = _________________________________ ______________________________ James Corven, PhD. John J. Clarke Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network Massachusetts Audubon Society PAGE 3 ASMFC HORSESHOE CRAB LETTER = _________________________________ ______________________________ David S. Wilcove, PhD. Daniel P. Beard Environmental Defense Fund National Audubon Society _________________________________ ______________________________ Thomas Grasso Paul Green World Wildlife Fund American Birding Association __________________________________ ______________________________ Eileen Rowan Vivian Newman Richmond Audubon Society Sierra Club __________________________________ ______________________________ Marcia McNally Malcolm Coulter, PhD. SAVE International IUCN Specialist Group on Storks, Ibises, and Spoonbills ___________________________________ ______________________________ Mildred F. Kriemelmeyer Craig Harrison Maryland Conservation Council Endangered Species Recovery Council ___________________________________ = Thelma Dalmas Virginia Society of Ornithology PAGE 4 ASMFC HORSESHOE CRAB LETTER ================================================================= To unsubscribe send a message to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ================================================================= =========================================================================