Kim McKown, chief of Crustacean Unit of the Bureau of Marine Resources, addressed the Council on 2008 horseshoe crab quota management.  She explained that ASMFC has been managing horseshoe crabs through a state-by-state commercial quota system since 2000.  In 2004, an addendum to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Horseshoe Crab was adopted, which reduced the quotas for Delaware Bay due to a decline of horseshoe crabs in that waterbody and the impact of that decline on red knots, a migratory shorebird that uses the Bay in its northward Spring migration.  While stopping along the shore of the Bay, red knots feed almost exclusively on horseshoe crab eggs.  Also in 2004, New York State voluntarily reduced its annual harvest quota for horseshoe crabs from over 350,000 animals to 150,000 animals.  New York commercial horseshoe crab harvests approximated this lower quota in 2004 and 2005.  However, the 2006 catch was more than 170,000 animals and preliminary data from 2007 indicate a major jump in the catch to nearly 285,000 crabs, almost double the self-imposed 150,000-animal quota.  Ms. McKown reported that, in 2006, New Jersey and Delaware closed their horseshoe crab fisheries in May, which increased the monetary value of horseshoe crabs.  Lawsuits ensued and Delaware had to reopen their fishery.  The new plan provided a daily allocation of 100 crabs/day/licensee (males, only) from June 7th – September 31st.  In 2007, New York changed its management approach because in each of the two prior years, the 150,000-crab voluntary quota was actually reached during the Spring, thereby eliminating a fall fishery.  The Department split the quota into separate Spring and Fall seasons.  However, a 75% trigger in landings was reached in mid-May and license-holders were told the fishery would be shut down in two weeks.  Ms. McKown stated that, in those two following weeks alone, 70,000 crabs were harvested and the total catch greatly exceeded the annual 150,000-animal quota by the closure date.  Despite this, the Fall 2007 fishery was opened as planned and an additional 10,000 crabs were harvested.

Ms. McKown told Council that she explained to license-holders that they would need to keep the daily catches to 100 – 150 crabs.  Higher catch rates would most likely cause a season closure.  There were mixed reactions to this; some favored a higher possession limit to take advantage of the crabs when they are available; others thought it best to keep catch rates lower to keep the season open longer.

Ms. McKown sought the Council's advice and recommendations on how to proceed with future management of the horseshoe crab fishery in New York.

Councilor Danielson suggested that an individual crab tag program be implemented, as it had been in the commercial striped bass fishery.  Under a tag program, each fisherman would get an allocation of tags and then it would not matter when he/she used them.

Councilor Jordan observed that, historically, most New York fishermen took relatively small numbers of horseshoe crabs for their own use or local sale as bait.  The closure of the fishery in Delaware/New Jersey has created a demand and price for horseshoe crab that has attracted a few very large-scale operators.  He recommended that the Department's management should favor historic small-scale users, not those who just recently entered the fishery because of the high market value.  Ms. Nancy Solomon of Long Island Traditions said that she has been in touch with many baymen who thought the current high market value of horseshoe crabs, up to $3.00/animals, was created a large black market trade.

Mr. German offered that DEC should never have voluntarily reduced the State's official annual horseshoe crab commercial quota of 360,000 crabs approved by ASMFC at the request of Audubon Society and other environmental groups concerned about the health of the red knot population. He believes there are more than enough horseshoe crabs to go around.  Mr. Arnold Leo of the East Hampton Commercial Fisheries Consultancy agreed with Mr. German.

New York ASMFC Commissioner Mr. Pat Augustine stated that restricting the number of crabs allowed to each license-holder per day would help to limit out-of-state sales.  One horseshoe crab license-holder thought that the 150,000-crab annual limit in New York was too low and he did not support low daily possession limits.

Councilor John Davi believes that the only way to prevent overharvesting horseshoe crabs is to impose strict limits on daily possession.  He also noted that the cost of gas and living generally has risen for commercial fishermen and the 150,000-crab annual limit should be raised in light of this.

Councilor Davi made a motion that the Council recommend to DEC that, for 2008, it institute a 200,000-crab overall harvest limit for horseshoe crabs and a daily possession limit of 200 crabs.  Councilor Jordan seconded the motion.  It was suggested that it would be best to break the motion down to separate motions addressing the annual harvest limit and daily possession limit.  Councilor Davi agreed to amend his motion, restricting it to recommending an annual commercial harvest quota for horseshoe crabs of 200,000 animals.  Council Jordan seconded the amended motion.  The amended motion was adopted.  The vote was 7 in favor; 0 opposed; 3 abstentions.

Councilor Davi's second motion, also seconded by Mr. Jordan, was for the Council to recommend that DEC institute a 200-crab/24 hours commercial possession limit for horseshoe crabs for 2008.  This motion also passed, by a vote of 8 in favor; 0 opposed; 2 abstentions.

 

Page last modified Wednesday, February 27, 2008 by George E. Carroll