This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------BE2F4D477563D95FA2641916 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Folks: This came across on BirdChat. I think it's important for all of us to respond to this since we all stand to benefit from Virginia imposing a moratorium on horseshoe crab harvesting as the other states have done. -- Good Birding! ...and all this science, Tyler Bell I don't understand, It's mailto:bell@say.acnatsci.org just my job five days a week. California, MD Elton John (Rocket Man) http://www.anserc.org/ --------------BE2F4D477563D95FA2641916 Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline Message-Id: <199808241528.IAA16962@dns.ccit.arizona.edu> Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 10:55:18 -0500 Reply-To: Josh Eagle <jeagle@AUDUBON.ORG> Sender: "National Birding Hotline Cooperative (Chat Line)" <BIRDCHAT@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU> From: Josh Eagle <jeagle@AUDUBON.ORG> Subject: Horseshoe Crabs/ Migratory Shorebirds Comments: To: va-richmond-general@list.audubon.org, md-smas-general@list.audubon.org, audubon-chat@list.audubon.org, mlee@audubon.org, pplumart@audubon.org To: BIRDCHAT@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU August 24, 1998 Dear All: I'm sure all of you are aware of the important connection between horseshoe crabs and migratory shorebirds stopping over in the Delaware Bay (largest migratory shorebird stopover in the lower 48 states), particularly red knots, sanderlings, semi-palmated sandpipers and ruddy turnstones. Most of you are probably also aware that a recent, tremendous surge in taking horseshoe crabs for use as bait in eel and conch fisheries has had a significant impact on horseshoe crab populations in Delaware Bay. Declining populations of horseshoe crabs, whose eggs are the critical food supply in the shorebird stopover, is certainly a big problem for the birds, who face a multiplicity of other threats, including habitat destruction, pesticide use, etc. I am sending this message in the hope that you will write in support of regulations curtailing the take of horseshoe crabs. These regulations are critical in preventing a potential crash in horseshoe crab and shorebird populations. Believe me, the people making these decisions hear often from the fishing industry, and if they don't hear from those interested in the long-term health of the resource, they will ignore it. The importance of your participation cannot be exaggerated. There are two current hotspots in horseshoe crab protection: 1. State of Virginia In past years, Virginia was a minor state in terms of horseshoe crab landings. For example, in 1996, Virginia reported about 85,000 pounds of landings, and in 1997, about 40,000 pounds (about 10,000 crabs). These numbers represented about 1% of the total coastal landings, most of which were in MD, NJ and DE. Those three states became concerned over the past few years that too many horseshoe crabs were being landed. In the 1990's, landings in those states increased 5 to 10 times. As a result of the surge in landings, MD, DE and NJ passed regulations strictly curbing the previously unregulated horseshoe crab fishery. This is something National Audubon, together with other local and national groups, worked very hard to accomplish. One terrible consequence of stricter regulations in these states has been that 1998 has seen Virginia's landings of horseshoe crabs rise 25 times, from 40,000 pounds to a projected 1,000,000 pounds this year. These are the same Delaware Bay crabs that were previously being landed in DE, MD and NJ. They are taken in federal waters, where the fishery is unregulated, off the coasts of these three states and then landed in Virginia. Thus, Virginia's lack of regulations is allowing the fishing industry to undermine the hard work of the other three states, who were trying to protect this important resource. This is irresponsible natural resource management, and fails to respect the other states' conservation initiative. Despite this obvious problem, and the mind-boggling 25 fold increase this year, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission chose not to do anything. They chose to wait until the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission finalizes its coastal plan (see below). This plan will not be voted upon until at least October, and in any event can't possibly be put into effect before next spring. This failure to act jeopardizes the horseshoe crabs, the migratory shorebirds, other dependent species, and the fishermen themselves, who depend on a sustainable fishery. The fifteen trawlers currently landing horseshoe crabs at Virginia ports have the capacity to land 10,000 crabs each per day. Thus, waiting until next year will allow hundreds of thousands of horseshoe crabs to be taken in the prime trawling season of September and October. I urge all of you to write to Governor Gilmore and VMRC Commissioner William A. Pruitt to let them know that this irresponsible lack of action in the face of a natural resource "gold rush" is not going unnoticed. The Governor should act immediately to ban the landing of trawled horseshoe crabs in Virginia, or to place a cap on yearly landings that reflects the history of the fishery - about 80,000 lounds per year. The addresses are as follows: The Honorable James S. Gilmore, III Governor of Virginia Office of the Governor State Capitol, 3rd Floor Richmond, Virginia 23219 William A. Pruitt, Commissioner Virginia Marine Resources Commission P.O. Box 756 Newport News, VA 23607 John Paul Woodley, Jr. Secretary of Natural Resources P.O. Box 1475 Richmond, Virginia 23212 2. Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission The ASMFC last week released the public hearing draft of its Horseshoe Crab Fishery Management Plan. This plan, which will be voted on by the ASMFC board in late October, would take effect in January of 1999 and would regulate the fishery in state waters from Maine to Florida. The adoption of a conservative plan protecting the resource is obviously very important. The board's "preferred management option," as contained in the plan calls for a 25% reduction in so-called "reference period landings," together with a complete closure of the fishery during the horseshoe crabs' spawning season of May and June. The spawning season closure is a good thing. But while the 25% reduction may sound significant, it really is a clever manipulation of the commercial landings data by the horseshoe crab bait industry. Without going into too much detail, suffice it to say that the industry was able to convince the board that the baseline figures for reduction should be the highest years ever, not an average of historical landings. Thus, a 25% percent reduction would still result in the second highest year of landings in history. A 60 to 70% reduction - which we have been advocating - would merely reduce 1999 landings to a figure that represents the historical coastal landings over a long period of time - about 2,000,000 pounds total for Maine through Florida. The ASMFC plan will be the most important factor in the protection of horseshoe crabs and shorebirds for years to come. It is extremely important that the board members hear from the public as well as the fishing industry, who are very active and vociferous. Copies of the plan (which contains much useful information) can be obtained from ASMFC by calling Tom O'Connell of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources at (410) 260-8271 or ASMFC headquarters (202) 289-6400. Written comments should be submitted to: Tom O'Connell MD Dept. of Natural Resources Tawes State Office Building C-2 580 Taylor Avenue Annapolis, MD 21401 FAX: (410) 260-8278. Thank you all for your help on this very important issue. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at (202) 861-2242 or jeagle@audubon.org. Josh Eagle, Staff Attorney, National Audubon Society, Washington, D.C., jeagle@audubon.org --------------BE2F4D477563D95FA2641916--