Latest News

• Secretary Mineta Announces Horseshoe Crab Sanctuary
  On August 8, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Norman Mineta announced the creation of a horseshoe crab sanctuary off of the mouth of the Delaware Bay.

  • Dan Beard's remarks from the event
  • Francis X. Clines in The New York Times: "U.S. Acts to Protect Embattled Horseshoe Crab" (August 9, 2000).
  • William Branigin in The Washington Post: "Virginia horseshoe crab harvest at risk" (August 9, 2000, p. B01).
  • Joel McCord in The Baltimore Sun: "Horseshoe crab sanctuary will be established off Del." (August 9, 2000).
  • Jeff Montgomery in The News Journal: "Horseshoe crab to get safe haven" (August 9, 2000).
  • Scott Harper in The Virginian-Pilot: "Federal officials ban harvest of horseshoe crabs" (August 9, 2000).
  • Christopher Thorne, Associated Press: "Feds to Shut Down Va. Crab Fishing" (August 9, 2000).
  • Melanie Lawson for WBOC TV: "Horseshoe Crab Sanctuary Created" (First aired August 8, 2000).
  • Melanie Lawson for WBOC TV" "Virginia Must Comply With Crab Conservation Plans" (First aired August 8, 2000).
  NMFS Announces Public Hearings on Horseshoe Crab Sanctuary
  The National Marine Fisheries Service has announced three public hearings on the creation of the horseshoe crab sanctuary:
  1. Tuesday, September 5, 2000, 7:30-9:30 p.m.--Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Auditorium, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901.
  2. Wednesday, September 6, 2000, 6:30-8:30 p.m.--New Jersey Marine Advisory Service, Education Center, Dennisville Road, Route 657, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210.
  3. Thursday, September 7, 2000, 7-9 p.m.--Wicomico County Free Library, 122 South Division Street, Salisbury, MD 21802.
  The full text of the Federal Register is available on-line at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2000_register&docid=00-21371-filed.

• Virginia Reduces Quota
  In response to the federal government finding Virginia out-of-compliance with the coastwide plan to manage horseshoe crabs, the state reduced its quota from 710,000 crabs to 355,000 crabs. This is still more than twice the mandated limit set by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.

  • Paul Clancy in The Virginian Pilot: "State reduces harvest of horseshoe crabs" (July 26, 2000).

• Virginia Found Out-of-Compliance
  Virginia, a longtime "loophole state" in regional efforts to protect the horseshoe crab, has been declared out-of-compliance with the coast-wide plan to manage this unique species. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), the multi-state agency charged with managing horseshoe crabs, overwhelmingly voted that Virginia's failure to implement the required limits on landings of horseshoe crabs justified this severe action. The U.S. Secretary of Commerce William Daley now has the authority to completely shut down Virginia's fishery.

• Delaware Governor Carper asks Secretary Daley to create a horseshoe crab sanctuary
  On May 4, Governor Carper sent a letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary William Daley, urging him to immediately implement the ASMFC proposal to create a horseshoe crab sanctuary.

  • Molly Murray in The News Journal: "Carper calls for horseshoe crab ban." (May 5, 2000)

• ASMFC Implements Coastwide Cap

  • Audubon's statement on the landing limits.
  • ASMFC Press Release