FROM THE ASMFC'S HORSESHOE CRAB FMP.
DECEMBER 1998.

Table 1. Current fishing regulations for horseshoe crabs by State.

State Regulations

MAINE No regulations regarding harvest (Sorksen, pers. comm., 1997).

NEW HAMPSHIRE Possession limit of 10 per day per person. License required to sell or distribute and mandatory monthly reporting is required (Nelson, pers. comm., 1997).

RHODE ISLAND No regulations regarding harvest; however, to sell commercially, a commercial fishing license is required ($200/year). A moratorium on commercial licenses is currently in place (Sisson, pers. comm., 1997).

MASSACHUSETTS No regulations regarding harvest; however, to sell commercially, a commercial fishing license is required ($65/year-residents, $130/year-nonresidents) (Coates, pers. comm., 1997).

CONNECTICUT No regulations regarding harvest (Babey, pers. comm., 1997).

NEW YORK No regulations regarding harvest; however, to sell commercially, or to take and land more than 50, a license is required ($30/year-residents, $50/year-nonresidents (Colvin, pers. comm., 1997).

NEW JERSEY Harvest requires a horseshoe crab permit and mandatory monthly reporting. The following persons are exempt from obtaining a permit: (1) property owners removing dead horseshoe crabs from their property for the purpose of disposal, (2) scientific collection with appropriate scientific collecting permit, and (3) individuals in possession of a miniature fyke, lobster, or fish pot license and written verification that horseshoe crabs were obtained from a legal source. In order to qualify for a horseshoe crab permit, individuals must have had a miniature fyke, lobster, or fish pot license; a horseshoe crab permit; and reported landings for at least 2 years between 1993 and 1997. Harvest by any other means than by hand (i.e., trawling or dredging) is prohibited. Harvest season is April 1 to August 15. No harvest is allowed from the beaches and shoreline and the adjacent waters and uplands within 1,000 feet of mean high water along the Delaware Bay. Hand-harvest is permitted in areas other than the abovementioned areas only two days / week (Tuesday and Thursday) (Himchak, pers. comm., 1997).

PENNSYLVANIA No regulations regarding harvest (Snyder, pers. comm., 1998).

DELAWARE No collection on State or federal land (horseshoe crab sanctuaries) between May 1 and June 30, except Tuesdays and Thursdays on state owned lands east of State Road Number 89 by persons with valid horseshoe crab collecting permits or American eel licenses. No collection on private land between May 1 and June 30 except permittees on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Hand harvest by persons with valid commercial eel fishing licenses requires mandatory reporting and horseshoe crabs must be for personal, non-commercial use. Dredging is prohibited in leased shellfish grounds except on one's own leased shellfish grounds or with permission from the owner of leased shellfish grounds. Harvest by vessels is limited to 1,500 horseshoe crabs / 24 hours. Harvest by dredging is prohibited between May 1 and June 30. Trawling is prohibited in State waters. Monthly reporting is required by all permittees. Containment or transport of more than 300 cubic feet of space occupied by horseshoe crabs is prohibited. Permittees must have secured at least 2 valid horseshoe crab collecting permits from previous years. If collecting permits drops to 45 or below, a lottery will be held to increase commercial collecting permits to 50. Permit fees are $100/year-resident and $1,000/year-non- resident (Manus, pers. comm., 1998).

MARYLAND The annual total allowable landings of horseshoe crabs for the commercial fishery is 750,000 pounds. Harvest requires a horseshoe crab catch and landing permit. In order to qualify for a permit, a person must be licensed in accordance with Natural Resources Article S4-701, Annotated Code of Maryland and reported catching and landing horseshoe crabs in Maryland during 1996. A person may not catch or land horseshoe crabs in Maryland between December 1 and March 31. A person may not catch horseshoe crabs within 1 mile of the Atlantic Coast, Chesapeake Bay and coastal bays from April 1 through June 30. A person may catch and land horseshoe crabs on Monday through Friday from outside of 1 mile of the Atlantic Coast between April 1 and June 30 in accordance to the following catch limits: (1) 100 horseshoe crabs for a permittee; and (2) 25 horseshoe crabs for a non-permittee. A person may catch and land horseshoe crabs on Monday through Friday from the tidal waters of the State between July 1 and November 30 in accordance to the following catch limits: (1) the daily catch limit for permittees shall be based on the ratio of landings for 1996 as applied to the annual total allowable landings for the present year; and (2) 25 horseshoe crabs for a non-permittee. A person who catches and lands horseshoe crabs in Maryland shall report catch and landing information on the forms provided by the Department. A person authorized to catch and release horseshoe crabs for purposes of scientific research shall be exempt from these regulations, but must return the horseshoe crabs live within 48 hours to the waters from which the horseshoe crabs were taken (O’Connell, pers. comm., 1998).

VIRGINIA Harvest by means of trawling or dredging is prohibited. However, special scientific collection permits have been issued to trawler to catch horseshoe crabs for medical purposes. License required to hand-harvest ($15/year) in addition, to obtain a license the applicant must be a registered waterman ($150/year). No limits for hand-harvesting (Travelstead, pers. comm., 1997).

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA No regulations regarding harvest.

POTOMAC RIVER FISHERIES COMMISSION No regulations regarding harvest.

NORTH CAROLINA No regulations regarding harvest (Daniel, pers. comm., 1997).

SOUTH CAROLINA Special permits required for harvest and / or possession. Harvest of horseshoe crabs is limited to biomedical industry (production of LAL) and to scientific, educational, or commercial display. Harvesting vessels must be properly licensed in addition to being permitted. Permits may be conditioned as to lawful fishing areas; minimum size requirements for horseshoe crabs; mesh size and dimensions of nets and other harvesting devices; bycatch provisions; fishing times or periods; catch reporting requirements; holding facilities, conditions, and periods; and any other conditions the State determines appropriate. Horseshoe crabs harvested for LAL production must be returned unharmed to State waters of comparable salinity and water quality after they are bled. Penalties for violating permit conditions, upon conviction, may include monetary fines, suspension or revocation of the permit(s), and seizure and sale of the permittee’s vessel (Cupka, pers. comm., 1998).

GEORGIA No regulations regarding harvest; however, experimental fishing contract may be required for significant commercial fishery activities (Evans, pers. comm., 1997).

FLORIDA No regulations regarding harvest; however, to sell commercially, a salt-water products license is required ($50/year-residents) (Vale, pers. comm., 1997).

FEDERAL WATERS No regulations regarding harvest (Maney, pers. comm., 1997).