The proposed horseshoe crab preserve will be located in federal waters off the mouth of Delaware Bay, closing an area approximately 60 nautical miles long and 30 nautical miles wide. The closed area adjoins state waters south of Pecks Beach, New Jersey, to just north of Ocean City, Maryland. The area was proposed because horseshoe crabs are most abundant from Virginia to New Jersey with their center of abundance being around the Delaware Bay area. The closed area would prohibit fishing or trawling for horseshoe crabs within a 30 nautical mile radius of the mouth of Delaware Bay. He indicated that the action was necessary to complement the restrictions established by surrounding states to ensure the preservation of horseshoe crabs along the Atlantic coast.
Researchers estimate that the horseshoe crab population continues to decline along Delaware Bay.
Horseshoe crabs are part of the Atlantic coast ecosystem, providing food for migrating seabirds, and are essential for both fishing and medical purposes. It is imperative that we do everything we can to protect the horseshoe crab, especially here in Delaware Bay, which is home to the largest population of American horseshoe crabs. I'm relieved to hear that we're on track to establish this preserve in the coming weeks. We must take necessary steps to employ sound, scientific-based conservation measures for horseshoe crabs. We're also quite pleased that the Secretary is taking aggressive action to bring Virginia into compliance.