'Need For Urgent Action': An Ancient Species In The LI Sound Faces Increasing Modern Threats To Survival

NEW YORK — A creature that predates the arrival of dinosaurs, is facing an increasing threat to survival in the Long Island Sound, according to researchers.

A new study published in Scientific Reports finds that while the species has endured in the estuary for millions of years, challenges created by mankind may be the undoing of the Atlantic horseshoe crab.

"Disparate and insufficient management strategies" across agencies that regulate the environmental issues affecting the Long Island Sound have hampered efforts to save the species locally, researchers behind the study, "Regional biodiversity monitoring reveals severe population decline of the Atlantic horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) in Long Island Sound," found.

See Also:

• Environmentalists Outraged Over Hochul's Horseshoe Crab Bill Veto
• Dr. Jane Goodall Joins Fight To Save Horseshoe Crabs In NY
• Tackling 'Ghost Fishing' In The Long Island Sound

"With management activities at the local, regional, and national level impacting the potential for population recovery in this species, it is critical for policymakers at all levels to be aware of the severe decline in observations of this species across data sources, pointing to a need for urgent action to prevent local extinction," the study's authors wrote.

The study found that horseshoe crab populations have declined notably in recent years, with population declines of as much as 9 percent per year in most of the areas of the Long Island Sound studied. Only the central region of the sound saw a slight increase in populations.

The study also found that the ratio of male to female horseshoe crabs in the Long Island Sound has shifted with fewer males in areas of the sound where the horseshoe crab populations have declined the most.

The authors said that the findings pointing to the poor condition of the Long Island Sound populations of horseshoe crabs warrant additional protective measures.

"While Connecticut has banned the hand harvest of horseshoe crabs, similar legislation passed in New York in late 2024, but the governor declined to sign it into law," the study concluded. "Federal protection measures, including listing the species under the USA’s Endangered Species Act, are also under consideration. The data presented here are suggestive of alarming trends in the abundance of L. polyphemus in Long Island Sound, alongside demographic changes that may hamper population recovery (e.g., sex ratio). Given these concerning trends, urgent action is needed to prevent loss of local populations in this important species."

You can read the full "Regional biodiversity monitoring reveals severe population decline of the Atlantic horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) in Long Island Sound" study here.