[va-bird] Horseshoe Crab News...

Well...this is somewhat dated info, but on May 9th, the Atlantic States 
Marine Fisheries Commission voted to institute a  MALES ONLY harvest of 
Horseshoe 
Crabs, effective in 2007. They also voted to lower the cap from 150,000 
crabs/state to 100,000.  The beach harvest in Delaware begins on June 7th this 
year, 
so if you are planning to head over to the Delaware Bay and don't want to see 
the slaughter on Slaughter Beach, go soon. ( Many crabs are harvested by 
trawler, which is already in progress.)

On the up side, NJ will institute a statewide moratorium on the harvest, 
independent of the ASMFC - they obviously realize the economic benefit birders 
bring to their state.  The delegates from Delaware voted to support the 
moratorium as well and gave some hope that the state of DE will do an 
independent 
moratorium as well. I would urge anyone interested in supporting this to write 
the 
Governor of Delaware and tell her we need a moratorium on the harvest of crabs 
to protect the Red Knot (in particular) and shorebirds in general. Here's her 
address...

GOVERNOR RUTH ANN MINNER
TATNALL BLDG.
WILLIAM PENN ST.  2ND FLOOR
DOVER,  DE   19901

Let her know that you are one of the 170,000 people that visit Bombay HooK 
NWR each year and that the reason you go is to WATCH BIRDS!  No birds? Why go.

Meanwhile - The Conservation Fund, based in Arlington VA, has purchased 73 
acres at Mispillion Point. Mispillion Harbor beaches have the highest 
concentration of HC eggs along the DE coast (and usually the highest 
concentration of 
Red Knots).  You can read more about this on The Conservation Fund website 
www.conservationfund.org  - click on the news icon and you will find it. 
Apparently, the land will be turned over to the State of DE and there will be 
NO 
HARVESTING of crabs along the one mile of beach this land sits on!  Yay!

So, that's all the HC news for now...thanks to all of you that have taken the 
time to express support. Continue to think good thoughts and see great 
birds...


Rich Rieger
Pres,  Northern VA Bird Club

Other related posts: