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PROHIBIT THE HARVEST OF HORSESHOE CRABS DURING THEIR SPAWNING SEASON (APRIL – JUNE).
SPAWNING SEASON IS WHEN FEMALE HORSESHOE CRABS (WITH MALES IN PURSUIT) HEAD TO THE BEACHES TO LAY THEIR EGGS. IT IS DURING THIS SEASON THAT HORSESHOE CRABS ARE THE EASIEST TARGETS FOR HARVEST.
MA Division of Marine Fisheries will accept written public comment through 5PM on Friday, March 8, 2024
Please submit your written comments to:
Director Daniel McKiernan by e-mail (marine.fish@mass.gov)
Additionally, DMF will host two in-person public hearings:
Wednesday, February 28, 2024 @ 5PM
Admiral’s Hall at MA Maritime
1 Academy Drive
Buzzards Bay, MA
Thursday, February 29, 2024 @ 5PM
DMF’s Annisquam River Field Station
30 Emerson Avenue
Gloucester, MA
Here are the details:
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS DIVISION OF MARINE FISHERIES
Notice of Public Hearing & Public Comment
Horseshoe Crab Conservation and Management (322 CMR 6.34).
- To enhance horseshoe crab conservation prohibit all harvest during the period of April 15 – June 7 to protect spawning crabs.
- Complement existing federal harvest closures within the boundaries of the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge and the Cape Cod National Seashore.
- Establish a 300 horseshoe crab trip limit for all bait fishers. This trip limit may automatically increase to 400 horseshoe crabs on August 1 if more than 50% of the quota remains available after July 31 or be automatically reduced to 200 horseshoe crabs should more than 80% of the annual quota be taken before September 15.
Here’s the link to the MA DMF Notice
Learn more about horseshoe crabs and the impacts of bait and biomedical harvest by clicking HERE!