Skip to Content

Audubon society seeks to ban horseshoe crab fishing in CT

Click here for updates on this story

    HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) — The Connecticut Audubon Society wants to ban horseshoe crab fishing in the state.

The bird group said that the harvesting of the crabs is not only causing a decline in their own population, but it’s impacting the migratory birds that rely on their eggs for food.

Experts said Long Island Sound’s horseshoe crab population has been declining over a 15 year period.

Connecticut Audubon Society director Patrick Comins recently provided testimony about this to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

“We strongly feel that because of the poor stock levels of horseshoe crabs in our region, the only remaining course of action is to invoke a moratorium on the harvest of horseshoe crabs in Connecticut,” Comins said.

The society said that the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission found last year that the region’s horseshoe crab population was in poor condition.

DEEP said it is now considering changing the state’s regulations.

A meeting is set for Thursday at 7 p.m. at DEEP’s marine headquarters in Old Lyme.

According to the society, the bird species most impacted by the decline in horseshoe crabs is the Red Knot.

Red Knots, which accompany horseshoe crabs in the late spring early summer to eat the crabs’ protein-rich eggs, are listed as “threatened” under the federal Endangered Species Act.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Article Topic Follows: National-World

Jump to comments ↓

CNN

BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

KION 46 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.

Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here

If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here.

Skip to content