Conserving horseshoe crabs is vital to Maryland’s biodiversity

Along the Atlantic Coast, one species is supporting ecological and human health — the American horseshoe crab. In Maryland, horseshoe crabs are a common site on the coast and in coastal bays. Harvest pressures have jeopardized the future of this prehistoric arthropod species, leading to sharp population declines. Recent action, however, could reduce pressure on horseshoe crabs, promoting conservation.