[Fwd: Horseshoe Crabs/ Migratory Shorebirds]
Tyler Bell (bell@say.acnatsci.org)
Mon, 24 Aug 1998 11:37:48 -0400
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Folks:
This came across on BirdChat. I think it's important for all of us to
respond to this since we all stand to benefit from Virginia imposing a
moratorium on horseshoe crab harvesting as the other states have done.
--
Good Birding! ...and all this science,
Tyler Bell I don't understand, It's
mailto:bell@say.acnatsci.org just my job five days a week.
California, MD Elton John (Rocket Man)
http://www.anserc.org/
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Message-Id: <199808241528.IAA16962@dns.ccit.arizona.edu>
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 10:55:18 -0500
Reply-To: Josh Eagle <jeagle@AUDUBON.ORG>
Sender: "National Birding Hotline Cooperative (Chat Line)"
<BIRDCHAT@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU>
From: Josh Eagle <jeagle@AUDUBON.ORG>
Subject: Horseshoe Crabs/ Migratory Shorebirds
Comments: To: va-richmond-general@list.audubon.org,
md-smas-general@list.audubon.org, audubon-chat@list.audubon.org,
mlee@audubon.org, pplumart@audubon.org
To: BIRDCHAT@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
August 24, 1998
Dear All:
I'm sure all of you are aware of the important connection between horseshoe
crabs and migratory shorebirds stopping over in the Delaware Bay (largest
migratory shorebird stopover in the lower 48 states), particularly red knots,
sanderlings, semi-palmated sandpipers and ruddy turnstones. Most of you are
probably also aware that a recent, tremendous surge in taking horseshoe crabs
for use as bait in eel and conch fisheries has had a significant impact on
horseshoe crab populations in Delaware Bay. Declining populations of horseshoe
crabs, whose eggs are the critical food supply in the shorebird stopover, is
certainly a big problem for the birds, who face a multiplicity of other threats,
including habitat destruction, pesticide use, etc.
I am sending this message in the hope that you will write in support of
regulations curtailing the take of horseshoe crabs. These regulations are
critical in preventing a potential crash in horseshoe crab and shorebird
populations. Believe me, the people making these decisions hear often from the
fishing industry, and if they don't hear from those interested in the long-term
health of the resource, they will ignore it. The importance of your
participation cannot be exaggerated.
There are two current hotspots in horseshoe crab protection:
1. State of Virginia
In past years, Virginia was a minor state in terms of horseshoe crab
landings. For example, in 1996, Virginia reported about 85,000 pounds of
landings, and in 1997, about 40,000 pounds (about 10,000 crabs). These numbers
represented about 1% of the total coastal landings, most of which were in MD, NJ
and DE.
Those three states became concerned over the past few years that too many
horseshoe crabs were being landed. In the 1990's, landings in those states
increased 5 to 10 times.
As a result of the surge in landings, MD, DE and NJ passed regulations
strictly curbing the previously unregulated horseshoe crab fishery. This is
something National Audubon, together with other local and national groups,
worked very hard to accomplish.
One terrible consequence of stricter regulations in these states has been
that 1998 has seen Virginia's landings of horseshoe crabs rise 25 times, from
40,000 pounds to a projected 1,000,000 pounds this year.
These are the same Delaware Bay crabs that were previously being landed in
DE, MD and NJ. They are taken in federal waters, where the fishery is
unregulated, off the coasts of these three states and then landed in Virginia.
Thus, Virginia's lack of regulations is allowing the fishing industry to
undermine the hard work of the other three states, who were trying to protect
this important resource. This is irresponsible natural resource management, and
fails to respect the other states' conservation initiative.
Despite this obvious problem, and the mind-boggling 25 fold increase this
year, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission chose not to do anything. They
chose to wait until the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission finalizes
its coastal plan (see below). This plan will not be voted upon until at least
October, and in any event can't possibly be put into effect before next spring.
This failure to act jeopardizes the horseshoe crabs, the migratory shorebirds,
other dependent species, and the fishermen themselves, who depend on a
sustainable fishery.
The fifteen trawlers currently landing horseshoe crabs at Virginia ports
have the capacity to land 10,000 crabs each per day. Thus, waiting until next
year will allow hundreds of thousands of horseshoe crabs to be taken in the
prime trawling season of September and October.
I urge all of you to write to Governor Gilmore and VMRC Commissioner William
A. Pruitt to let them know that this irresponsible lack of action in the face of
a natural resource "gold rush" is not going unnoticed. The Governor should act
immediately to ban the landing of trawled horseshoe crabs in Virginia, or to
place a cap on yearly landings that reflects the history of the fishery - about
80,000 lounds per year. The addresses are as follows:
The Honorable James S. Gilmore, III
Governor of Virginia
Office of the Governor
State Capitol, 3rd Floor
Richmond, Virginia 23219
William A. Pruitt, Commissioner
Virginia Marine Resources Commission
P.O. Box 756
Newport News, VA 23607
John Paul Woodley, Jr.
Secretary of Natural Resources
P.O. Box 1475
Richmond, Virginia 23212
2. Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
The ASMFC last week released the public hearing draft of its Horseshoe Crab
Fishery Management Plan. This plan, which will be voted on by the ASMFC board
in late October, would take effect in January of 1999 and would regulate the
fishery in state waters from Maine to Florida.
The adoption of a conservative plan protecting the resource is obviously
very important. The board's "preferred management option," as contained in the
plan calls for a 25% reduction in so-called "reference period landings,"
together with a complete closure of the fishery during the horseshoe crabs'
spawning season of May and June.
The spawning season closure is a good thing. But while the 25% reduction
may sound significant, it really is a clever manipulation of the commercial
landings data by the horseshoe crab bait industry. Without going into too much
detail, suffice it to say that the industry was able to convince the board that
the baseline figures for reduction should be the highest years ever, not an
average of historical landings. Thus, a 25% percent reduction would still
result in the second highest year of landings in history. A 60 to 70% reduction
- which we have been advocating - would merely reduce 1999 landings to a figure
that represents the historical coastal landings over a long period of time -
about 2,000,000 pounds total for Maine through Florida.
The ASMFC plan will be the most important factor in the protection of
horseshoe crabs and shorebirds for years to come. It is extremely important
that the board members hear from the public as well as the fishing industry, who
are very active and vociferous.
Copies of the plan (which contains much useful information) can be obtained
from ASMFC by calling Tom O'Connell of the Maryland Department of Natural
Resources at (410) 260-8271 or ASMFC headquarters (202) 289-6400. Written
comments should be submitted to:
Tom O'Connell
MD Dept. of Natural Resources
Tawes State Office Building C-2
580 Taylor Avenue
Annapolis, MD 21401
FAX: (410) 260-8278.
Thank you all for your help on this very important issue. If you have any
questions, please feel free to contact me at (202) 861-2242 or
jeagle@audubon.org.
Josh Eagle, Staff Attorney, National Audubon Society, Washington, D.C.,
jeagle@audubon.org
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