Environmental Advocates Celebrate Passage Of Horseshoe Crab Protection Legislation

NEW YORK — Environmental advocates are rejoicing after news that Governor Kathy Hochul has signed the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act, which will phase out harvesting horseshoe crabs from New York waters.

The Horseshoe Crab Protection Act prohibits the taking of horseshoe crabs from state waters for commercial and biomedical uses, environmental advocates said.

The bill will phase out taking horseshoe crabs over a three-year time frame and completely ban the antiquated practice by 2029, officials said.

Horseshoe crabs are a keystone species in the food web that have walked the earth for 350 million years, but populations are in decline in the Northeast, said Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaing for the Environment.

This decline also threatens many species that depend on horseshoe crab eggs for food including several bird species and fish such as striped bass, weakfish, flounder and more, she said.

The Senate and Assembly passed legislation for the last two years that would prevent the taking of this crucial species for commercial or biomedical uses, Esposito said.

The Governor vetoed the bill last year. This year, recent data shows further declines in horseshoe crab populations specifically in Long Island Sound. By signing the bill, New York has joined efforts with both New Jersey who banned harvesting in 2008 and Connecticut who banned it in 2024, Esposito said.

Esposito issued the following statement: "Christmas came early for the Horseshoe Crabs! This is an amazing holiday gift, and Governor Hochul has given us a big reason to celebrate! Horseshoe crabs have walked the earth since the time of the dinosaurs, and we want to make sure they don’t go extinct."

The Horseshoe Crab Protection Act, Esposito said, will prevent the taking of horseshoe crab for commercial and biomedical purposes, allowing horseshoe crab populations to rebound and New York to protect the historic species for future generations. This is an incredible holiday gift to our ecosystem and to the communities who love this important species."

She added: "CCE applauds Governor Hochul, Senator Brad Holyman and Assemblywoman Deborah Glick , for working together with environmental stakeholders, and scientific experts to ensure that the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act was signed into law this year.”

Last year, environmentalists were outraged over Hochul's initial decision to veto the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act.

In her veto message in 2024, Hochul wrote: "This bill would prohibit the taking of horseshoe crabs for commercial or biomedical purposes and also extend the authority of the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to manage crabs."

She added: "DEC has significant rules and regulations regarding commercial and recreational fishing in the state and adheres to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission management plans to ensure healthy coastal fishery resources. DEC has already announced four lunar closures for the upcoming year to address concerns about overharvesting the horseshoe crab population."

A statement from the NYCDEC read: "Horseshoe crabs are an important part of the East Coast’s ecosystem. DEC is committed to their conservation and protection by working cooperatively with Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to manage horseshoe crabs along the East Coast. Horseshoe crab landings in New York State are strictly monitored and managed and DEC recently implemented additional conservation closures to further safeguard future populations."