Contact: Roy Miller, Fisheries Administrator, phone: (302) 739-9914
or Joanna Wilson, Public Affairs, phone: (302) 739-9902

Fish and Wildlife to Hold Public Hearing on Proposed Changes to Horseshoe Crab Regulations

The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife will hold a public hearing at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28 on proposed modifications to Delaware’s horseshoe crab regulations which govern collecting season, dredging, reporting, commercial collecting permits and annual harvest limit. The hearing will be held in the DNREC Auditorium, Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover.

DNREC is proposing two options, either of which would meet requirements under the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Horseshoe Crabs, administered by Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.

Option 1 would prohibit the harvest and landing of all horseshoes crabs in Delaware waters from Jan. 1 through June 7 by any means for two years, and prohibit the harvest and landing of female horseshoe crabs for the remainder of the year, beginning in calendar year 2007. Between June 8 and Dec. 31, up to 100,000 male horseshoe crabs could be harvested from approved areas.

Daily phone-in reporting requirements during the open season are proposed for any harvesting activity. Proposed permit renewal requirements would bring horseshoe crab harvesting in line with other shellfish licenses using annual renewal by Dec. 31 of each calendar year in order to retain eligibility for this fishery.

Option 2 would prohibit all harvest and landing of horseshoe crabs in Delaware for a two-year period to begin in calendar year 2007. Either choice will be reconsidered in light of horseshoe crab population trends and further action by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission beginning in 2009.

Written comments on the matter may be addressed to the Fisheries Section, Division of Fish and Wildlife, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901 or sent via email to Roy Miller, Fisheries Administrator, at roy.miller@state.de.us. The record will remain open for written comments until 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. Oct. 3.

For more information on the proposed regulations, please call the Fisheries Section at 302-739-9914.
 

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