Contact: Roy Miller, Fisheries, phone: (302) 739-9914
or Melinda Carl, Public Affairs Office, phone: (302) 739-9902

DNREC Establishes Check Stations for Horseshoe Crab Harvest

State horseshoe crab check stations will begin operating tomorrow, June 14 for crabs taken after daybreak under an emergency order signed today by Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary John A. Hughes.

The order revises Delaware’s horseshoe crab reporting requirements by establishing three horseshoe crab check stations where all persons issued a horseshoe crab commercial collecting permit or a commercial eel pot license will be required to have their crabs checked on the same day they are harvested.

Secretary Hughes said the emergency action is necessary to protect the vital horseshoe crab resource through an independent reporting mechanism for the harvest, which will likely be impacted by pressure from quotas and moratoriums imposed by surrounding states that could drive market demand. “The horseshoe crab is an ancient and defenseless creature. They need all the help they can get, including restricted and accurate counting of the takes,” said Hughes.

According to Fisheries Administrator Roy Miller, check stations for private areas will operate Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Mahon Road, the corner of Bowers Beach Road and Route 1, and at the state’s Mispillion Lighthouse property. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, only the Mahon Road check station will be open for horseshoe crab takings at Port Mahon.

The check stations will be manned by state employees who will verify the harvest count by number and volume of horseshoe crabs. The system will serve as a verification of the accuracy of the weekly call-in and monthly paper reports from harvesters which will continue as before. The check stations will also provide samples of horseshoe crabs that can be accurately measured and sexed so that mandatory reporting provisions included in the amended Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Interstate Fisheries Management Plan for horseshoe crabs can be met as accurately as possible. The samples also will support stock assessment efforts for managing the fishery.

The order, effective 12:01 a.m. June 14, will remain in effect for 90 days.

 

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