Conservation Alert – 2026 Horseshoe Crab Quotas

The MA Division of Marine Fisheries has proposed an increase to the horseshoe catch. Horseshoe crabs are a public trust resource and keystone species that support migratory shorebirds, fisheries productivity, and coastal ecosystem health. In a cost-benefit analysis, the value of horseshoe crabs for bait is negligible, while their use as bait is wasteful and harmful to many shorebird species. The horseshoe crab is a critical part of the marine ecosystem providing an important food source for shorebirds. While their blood has been used for biomedical testing, companies are now transitioning to a synthetic alternative. Other states such as New York and Connecticut have recognized the critical need to protect this species.

To learn more, including how to draft a comment, read the excerpt from a Southeastern Massachusetts Pine Barrens Alliance action alert. A public hearing takes place on 2/24 and comments are due 2/27. The BBC has submitted the comment below, and we encourage our members to comment as well.

More Information

Division of Marine Fisheries Public Hearing Notice

Excerpt from Southeastern Massachusetts Pine Barrens Alliance action alert

Southeastern Massachusetts Pine Barrens Alliance webpage about horseshoe crabs

2026 Boston Globe Article: Massachusetts wants to bleed more horseshoe crabs. What if there was a better way?

BBC Comment to MA Division of Marine Fisheries

I am writing on behalf of the Brookline Bird Club, a 113 year old organization with over 1,400 members, the great majority of whom reside in Massachusetts.

We urge the Division of Marine Fisheries to revise its proposal regarding use of horseshoe crabs and reduce the proposed quote while implementing plans to phase out the catch altogether.

The proposal does not go far enough in restricting the annual bait take for horseshoe crabs, while needlessly increasing the allowed take for biomedical research. We believe that, instead, the DMF should end the use of horseshoe crabs for bait and maintain the existing 200,000 biomedical quota.

The DMF proposal acknowledges that the proposed bait quota exceeds actual bait needs. As for medical uses, the Boston Globe reports that pharmaceutical companies are transitioning to proven, more effective synthetic alternatives to horseshoe crabs for testing medicines.

After New York passed a law in line with our belief in responsible management of horseshoe crabs, the Governor of New York said, “This law says that we need to take a break and let this species regenerate and get back to a state of good health. I strongly urge our neighboring states to join this growing coalition and enact similar laws to protect the population in their waters.”

Horseshoe crabs are a public trust resource and keystone species that support migratory shorebirds, fisheries productivity, and coastal ecosystem health. In a cost-benefit analysis, the value of horseshoe crabs for bait is negligible, while their use as bait is wasteful and harmful to many shorebird species, such as red knots, that are in decline and rely on horseshoe crab eggs as a food source. Protecting the crabs directly advances Governor Healey’s biodiversity order by safeguarding a species essential to ecosystem resilience.

Our members unequivocally believe that Massachusetts should end the use of horseshoe crabs for bait and limit medicinal use of horseshoe crabs so the species can recover from ongoing decline.

Thank you for your review of these comments. Our organization would be pleased to discuss this or other relevant topics with the Division of Marine Fisheries. My contact information is found below my signature.

Sincerely, Clifford Cook
President
Brookline Bird Club