NEWSLETTER OF THE PARTNERSHIP FOR THE DELAWARE ESTUARY: A NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM

V O L U M E 1 6 T I S S U E 3 T S P R I N G 2 0 0 6

very summer, while vacationingwith my family at the Jerseyshore, a lone horseshoe crabseems to make an appearanceon the beach. The arrival of this

visitor is always announced by childrenscreaming “What is that thing?” and“Don’t touch it because it bites.” Much tothe chagrin of my own kids, I always wel-come the opportunity to scoop up these

lonely horseshoe crabs, dispel all themyths surrounding them, and to share alltheir wonders.

When I think about what sets apart theDelaware Estuary from other estuariesacross the country, and even around theworld, it is undoubtedly its population ofspawning horseshoe crabs — the largest

By Kathy Klein, Executive Director, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary

Unfortunately, the management issues surrounding horseshoe crabs are not exactly blackand white.

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Coast Days Page 15Celebrating coastal marine environments inNew Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware

3 Species SpecificThe Horseshoe Crab: Not Just AnotherPretty Face

4 Estuary BasicsUnderstanding Horseshoe Crab SpawningActivity

6 PerspectivesThe Uncertain Fate of Delaware BayShorebirds

8 TidingsProtecting Horseshoe Crab and HumanHealth

10 Making WavesCommunities Create Horseshoe CrabSanctuaries

12 News You Can UsePlan2Fund: A Development Director’s NewBest Friend

For Teachers: Steamboat ExploresDelaware River History and Ecology

13 Estuary TriviaHave You Hugged a Horseshoe CrabToday?

14 Estuary Events

In this Issue

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Meetings of the Estuary’s Implementation Teams and Advisory Committees occur on a regular basis and are open to the public. Formeeting dates and times, please contact the individuals listed below:

Estuary Implementation CommitteeKathy Klein, Executive Director (Chair)(800) 445-4935, ext. [email protected]

Monitoring Advisory CommitteeEdward Santoro, Monitoring Coordinator(609) 883-9500, ext. [email protected]

Toxic Advisory CommitteeThomas Fikslin, Branch Head(609) 883-9500, ext. [email protected]

Polychlorinated BiphenylsImplementation Advisory CommitteePamela Bush, esq. (609) 883-9500, ext. [email protected]

Fish Consumption Advisory TeamThomas Fikslin, Branch Head(609) 883-9500, ext. [email protected]

Science CoordinationDanielle Kreeger, Estuary Science Director(800) 445-4935, ext. [email protected]

Habitat Restoration CoordinationKellie Westervelt, Restoration Director(800) 445-4935, ext. [email protected]

Delaware Estuary EducationNetworkLisa Wool, Program Director(800) 445-4935, ext. [email protected]

MEETINGS CONTACT LIST

on Earth. This truly amazing animal, which is more closelyrelated to spiders and scorpions than to crustaceans, hasbeen around for over 250 million years. It is mind bog-gling to think how this gentle creature has evolved tosuccessfully survive, especially when you consider allthe other species that have disappeared over thesame period of time.

The best time of year to get up-close and personal with ahorseshoe crab in the Delaware Bay is during the hightides of May and June. This is especially true near the newand full moons, when daily tides are at the highest. This iswhen adult horseshoe crabs journey from the depths of theAtlantic Ocean to Delaware Bay beaches to spawn.

At the same time that horseshoe crabs are coming ashore to laytheir eggs, hundreds of thousands of shorebirds are travelingnorthward from South American en route to their summer breed-ing grounds in the Arctic. Along the way, red knots, dunlins,

ruddy turnstones, sanderlings, semi-

of birds, stop off in the Delaware Bayto feast upon horseshoe crab eggs.Each bird literally eats thousands ofeggs each day during its brief visit toour neck of the woods. These eggs

provide the energy these shorebirdsneed to complete their migration to the

Arctic.

The population of horseshoe crabs in the bay,their relationship with migrating shorebirds, and their

value to both the fishing and pharmaceutical indus-tries has, in recent years, resulted in an ongoingdebate on how this living resource should be man-aged. I invite you to read through this issue ofEstuary News to learn about this amazing creature’spast, present, and future, and to uncover some of its

mysteries. I guarantee that thenext time you see a horseshoecrab, you too will feel someaffection toward this green, hard-shelled warrior of the sea. ■

Signature Species continued from page 1

The best time of year to get up-close and personalwith a horseshoe crab in the Delaware Bay is duringthe high tides of May and June.

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palmated sandpipers, and other species

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e all have a love-haterelationship with thepharmaceutical industry.We love the drugs that

save our lives but hate those bills at thepharmacy. Few of us realize, however, thatthe safety and purity of this industry’s prod-ucts are dependent upon the lowly horse-shoe crab. Even fewer know that our forefa-thers learned from Native Americans thatthe horseshoe crab was the original slowrelease fertilizer. American Indians, likesome Asian cultures, also ate the largearthropod, and for decades, farmersthroughout the Delmarva Peninsula caughtand fed the crabs to their chickens andpigs. In fact, millions wereharvested for suchuses up until thelate 1800s.

Whilehorseshoecrabs have beenvalued and used for onepurpose or another fordecades, it has onlybeen relatively recentlythat scientists have rec-ognized their ecologi-cal importance.Horseshoe crabs are now referred to as a“keystone species,” or one that holds thekey to success for other bay species, like

juvenile fishes or visiting shorebirds. In addi-tion, the use of the crab’s blood supports amulti-billion dollar, international pharmaceu-tical industry that we all depend on for ourquality of life or even life itself — but I amgetting ahead of the story.

The horseshoe crab is revered for its manydistinctive features. For example, it has 10eyes, two of which are located on theunderside of the crab and are possiblyused for orientation while traveling throughthe water. To propel itself, the crab alsouses its branchial "legs," or book gills,which resemble the book lungs of primitive

arachnids. These function similarto the gills of a fish and

allow the crab to"breathe." Its six

pairs of ambu-latory legsalso allow itwalk acrossthe seafloor as itfeeds on var-

ious bottom-dwelling inver-

tebrates, suchas clams, poly-

chaete worms andsmall crustaceans.

These unique charac-teristics may have con-tributed to the animalgroup’s survival of a

mass extinction in the Permian Period thatkilled half of all wildlife, including thedinosaurs, and 95 percent of all marine

species. Since that time, numerous post-Paleozoic life forms have learned todepend on the horseshoe crab and itseggs to survive. These include: shorebirds,finfish, sea turtles, snails, oysters and manymore.

It All Starts With a Green EggAdult horseshoe crabs come ashore in thegreatest numbers during May and June tobury thousands of little green eggs onDelaware Bay beaches. The best placesfor observing this phenomenon in Delawareare Pickering, Bigstone and SlaughterBeaches, and in New Jersey, the beachesat Norburys Landing and Villas, as well asat the South Cape Shore Lab belonging toRutgers. Their numbers peak on the highesttides, or the tides of new and full moons,and they prefer the night tides, when preda-tory shorebirds are resting. Each female,along with a male “hooked” on, digs aseries of nests while laying several thou-sand eggs. These are then fertilized bymale horseshoe crabs.

The eggs are deposited five to seveninches deep in the sand and hatch weekslater. The precocious larvae both swim andcrawl for their first few weeks before settlingdown for a benthic life, plowing through thesand and mud while searching for wormsand clams. Like all arthropods, they mustmolt shells. Each young crab grows fromthree-sixteenths of an inch to more than nineinches for males and 12 inches for females,molting some 17 times over the 10 years orso it takes to reach sexual maturity. It isthought that horseshoe crabs live 20 years

By William Hall, Marine Education Specialist, University of Delaware Sea Grant

Horseshoe crabs have been harvest-ed for uses ranging from fertilizer tomedical testing, the latter of whichhas resulted in several Nobel Prizes.

THE HORSESHOE CRAB:

Not Just Another Pretty Face

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V O L U M E 16 T I S S U E 34

ate on a May evening, withthe moon nearly full, I stoodon the beach at Ted HarveyWildlife Area east of Dover,

Delaware, and listened to the hollowknocks of horseshoe crabs jostling forposition on the high tide. A stiff westerlywind did not bother the thousands ofcrabs because it was pushing wavesaway from the shore.

Watching this phenomenon, I could nothelp but wonder what was happeningacross the bay, where westerly windswould be causing waves to strike theeastern shore and leading some horse-shoe crabs to wait for a better night tospawn. For that matter, what was takingplace on other western-shore beaches?After all, I could only see what washappening along one stretch of beachin a big bay. At that point it becameclear to me that the essential challengeto understanding horseshoe crabspawning activity in the Delaware Bayis the need to make observations inmany places at nearly the same time.

Monitoring spawning activity is a hugechallenge. Not only is the DelawareBay a big place, but horseshoe crabsspawn over at least a two-month period(May and June). They spawn, more orless, around the spring high tides asso-ciated with the new and full moons, buttiming is a bit unpredictable. The reasonbeing, spawning behavior is affectedby other environmental factors, such aswaves and temperature.

How can we monitor spawning activityaround the bay over the whole spawn-

ing season? This is a question I havebeen thinking about off and on for overseven years. Fortunately, I have notbeen alone in trying to find a solution,because I am part of a community offishery managers, concerned citizensand researchers who have been coop-erating to monitor spawning activity inthe Delaware Bay.

Over the past several years, two com-plementary approaches have beenused to monitor spawning activity. Oneapproach relies on lots of people tocount spawning horseshoe crabs simul-taneously on many beaches throughoutthe bay. This tremendous effort is calledthe Delaware Bay Horseshoe CrabSpawning Survey, and it has beenaround since 1990 in various designs.The other approach uses a bay-widearray of radio receivers to listen forradio-tagged horseshoe crabs as theyspawn. Tracking horseshoe crabs withradio telemetry is an experimentalapproach that is part of a three year,bay-wide tagging study.

Each spring, hundreds of trained volun-teers participate in the spawning survey.Together they cover up to 24 beachesover 12 nights in May and June, theresults of which have yielded newinsights into the spawning patterns ofhorseshoe crabs. One interesting find isthat the areas where spawning is con-centrated has shifted over the years. Forexample, spawning activity has in-creased along New Jersey beachesnorth of Egg Island. We are not sure,however, why this is happening. Also,the proportion of spawning in May,

when the shorebirds stop over, has var-ied considerably, even though totalspawning activity has been relativelystable over the past seven years.Annual variations in water temperatureprovide a partial explanation for thisobservation because cold spring sea-sons tend to mean delayed spawning,possibly because temperature affectsegg development.

The other approach to understandingspawning activity in the Delaware Bayhas been to employ technology. Withthe help of many bay residents, anarray of radio receivers has been set upfor tracking the behavior of several hun-dred horseshoe crabs with attachedradio transmitters. When a radio-taggedhorseshoe crab comes into shallow

Understanding Horseshoe CrabSpawning Activity

Radio transmitters are one toolresearchers are using to track thespawning activity of horseshoecrabs.

LBy Dave Smith, Biological Statistician, Leetown ScienceCenter, U.S. Geological Survey

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waters, the radio transmits a signal to thereceivers. From the strength and direction ofthe signal, we can then determine whereand when the crab approached thebeach.

The timing of the signal in reference to thetide tells us whether the animal was spawn-ing on the beach at high tide or resting inan intertidal area at low tide. We haveeven tracked some horseshoe crabs thatwere obviously stranded and found them

buried under peat, dead from exposure orpredation, and, in a couple cases, in thepossession of watermen. The neat thingabout using radio telemetry is we cansimultaneously observe nearly the wholebay throughout the spawning season whileusing only a small crew to maintain thereceivers.

A few patterns in spawning activity havejumped out at us from the radio-telemetrystudy. First, we noticed that older adults

tend to spawn earlier in the season andcontinue to spawn longer than youngeradults. Also, young males spawn much lessfrequently than old males, but femalesspawn at the same frequency regardless ofage. Both males and females were morelikely than not to return to the same side ofthe bay to spawn, yet they were unlikely toreturn to the same beach. Furthermore, wewere surprised to observe a high level ofspawning activity along Moores Beachand Thompson Beach in New Jersey,

where there is lots of mud and little sandybeach habitat. It is not known if eggs candevelop in this mud.

We are just beginning to sift through theradio-telemetry data and I have no doubtthat more discoveries and new questionswill emerge. The most common and impor-tant feature of the spawning survey andradio-telemetry study is that both attempt toobserve spawning activity throughout theDelaware Bay during the spawning sea-

son. These research tactics effectively com-plement each other and do not produceduplicative information.

In John Godfrey Saxe’s poetic version ofthe Hindu parable “Six Blind Men and theElephant,” each of the men touched theanimal in a different place, yet none real-ized they were observing an elephant.Similarly, based on my observations thatnight on the beach at Ted Harvey, I couldnot realize what was happening through-

out the bay from my lone perspective.Because of efforts like the spawning surveyand radio-telemetry study, however, we arebeginning to better understand spawningactivity in the Delaware Bay.

For more information on the Delaware BaySpawning Survey, check outwww.Ocean.UDel.edu/MAS/BHall/HSCCensus, or visit www.LSC.USGS.gov/AEB/2065 for periodic reports on the surveyand bay-wide tagging study. ■

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Almost 30 beaches are included in the Delaware Bay Horseshoe Crab Spawning Survey, which is undertaken annually by many volun-teers. Radio transmitters also aid in this research by monitoring beaches throughout the Delaware Bay. As you can see, many signalseven overlap.

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V O L U M E 16 T I S S U E 36

f current trends in theDelaware Bay continue, oneof the region’s most treasuredshorebirds, the red knot, couldgo extinct by 2010. EachMay, thousands of shorebirds,

including red knots and eight otherspecies, descend upon the DelawareBay to gorge on horseshoe crabeggs. These shorebirds rely on the fat-rich eggs to fuel their flight from theDelaware Bay to their Arctic breedinggrounds every spring.

The Delaware Bay is one of the fourmost important shorebird migrationsites in the world, and it boasts thesecond largest concentration of shore-birds in North America. The bay alsohosts the world’s largest remainingspawning population of horseshoecrabs. The symbiosis of these twoglobally important and rare naturalgems is no coincidence. TheDelaware Bay horseshoe crab popu-lation provides the only reliable foodsource for the red knot and severalother species of shorebirds, whichconsume the crab’s eggs almost exclu-sively during migration.

The excessive harvesting of horseshoecrabs for eel and conch bait duringthe middle and late 1990s, as well asmore recent spikes in crab harvesting,has dramatically and dangerouslyreduced the number of crab eggsavailable for foraging shorebirds.Likewise, the alarming decline inhorseshoe crab eggs mirrors thedecline in adult crabs. Delaware trawlsurvey data indicates that the popula-tion has declined over 75 percent injust 11 years. And studies show thategg density on New Jersey beacheshas declined from a range of 40,000to 100,000 eggs per square meter inthe 1990s to only 15,000 eggs persquare meter in 2005.

This reduction in horseshoe crab eggshas resulted in a disastrous decline inshorebird population numbers andweight-gain rates in recent years. Priorto excessive harvesting, the red knotweight-gain increase was the highestin the world, recorded at nearly ninegrams per day in the late 1990s. Thisrate declined to a low of only twograms per day in 2002, resulting infewer individuals reaching the Arcticbreeding grounds and higher adultmortality.

By Eric Stiles, Vice President for Conservation and Stewardship, andJoanna Wolaver, Conservation Project Coordinator, New Jersey Audubon Society

IRed knots pack on an exorbitantamount of fat to fuel their migration.However, this fuel is in short supplydue to a decline in horseshoe crabs.

Once numbering in the hundreds ofthousands, now only about 15,000red knots migrate to the DelawareEstuary every spring.

Horseshoe crabs and shorebirdsare two living resources that distin-guish the Delaware Estuary fromother such regions around theworld.

The Uncertain Fate of Delaware Bay Shorebirds

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Overall, red knots in the Delaware Bayarea have declined from over 100,000in the 1980s to approximately 15,000in 2005. This is the most drastic declinebeing noted among shorebirds globally.Based on this decline, leading scientistspredict that the red knot rufa subspecieswill be at or near extinction by 2010.

Unfortunately, concerns are not limited tothe future of this one species, for the redknot is the proverbial canary in the coalmine. Findings suggest that other shore-bird species, such as the ruddy turnstoneand the semipalmated sandpiper, arefacing similar declines. Research clearlydemonstrates that the number of eggs,and therefore the number of adult horse-shoe crabs, is insufficient to support con-tinued migration of these shorebirds tothe Delaware Bay.

For over a decade, the New JerseyAudubon Society and its coalition part-ners have advocated for the adoption ofa moratorium on the harvest of horse-shoe crabs in the Delaware Bay to savethe red knot, as well as other shorebirds,from extinction. It is our opinion that,based on our analysis, a moratorium isthe only action that would address the

The adoption of the moratorium in NewJersey, however, is only one of the nec-essary steps to safeguard the red knotand other shorebirds. Protections mustbe in place at the regional level throughthe adoption of a moratorium in theentire Delaware Bay area, as well asalong the coasts of Maryland andVirginia, by the Atlantic States MarineFisheries Commission. In addition, thefederal listing of the red knot rufa sub-species under the Endangered SpeciesAct is critical to the survival of theseshorebirds, as are the continued effortsto reduce human harassment of foragingshorebirds, and the restoration of horse-shoe crab habitat bay wide.

A moratorium on the horseshoe crab har-vest is not only vital for shorebird protec-tion, but it would also safeguard thenature-based tourism industry of theDelaware Bay, which is valued at up to$34 million per year. A recent report bythe New Jersey Department ofEnvironmental Protection found that shore-birds were the keystone for this vital eco-nomic engine. This figure alone sur-passes the U.S. Fish and WildlifeService’s estimate that the eel and conchharvest industry from Florida to Maine isworth $15 million annually. In addition,the same agency valued the biomedicalindustry’s non-lethal collection of horse-shoe crab blood at $150 million. Thus,horseshoe crabs are worth much morealive than dead.

Quite simply, it is ecologically and eco-nomically reckless to allow the contin-ued harvest of Delaware Bay horseshoecrabs while the red knot populationheads for extinction. To join the NewJersey Audubon Society’s campaign toprotect Delaware Bay shorebirds,please contact Joanna Wolaver at(609) 392-1181. ■

Photos byKEVIN KARLSON

Bay Shorebirds

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immediate threat and allow the horse-shoe crab population to recover prior to

Department of Environmental Protection

eastern shore. The New Jersey Marine

moratorium by the New Jersey

(NJDEP) marked a significant step in

Fisheries Council also voted to support

and so the NJDEP may adopt it shortly.

2010. The proposal of a two-year

the proposed moratorium in early April,

the right direction this spring on the bay’s

he Delaware Bay isrich in naturalresources, including awide diversity of flora

and fauna. From a strictlyhuman perspective, theseorganisms exist along a contin-uum of sorts, ranging from pos-itive benefits to negative out-comes.

For example, some speciesare commercially valuable(e.g., oysters, blue crabs andshad); others perform impor-tant ecological services (e.g.,fiddler crabs build burrows thatoxygenate sediments, increas-ing marsh productivity); some,like the many egrets, heronand other fowl, have aestheticvalue; some are nuisances(e.g., barnacles and algaethat foul boat hulls); and somepose threats to human health(e.g., Vibrio bacteria that cancause a variety of illnesses).

The location of a speciesalong this scale helps todefine management objectivesin working to minimize nega-tive impacts or maximize posi-tive benefits. Sometimes man-aging one species can affectanother, so it is important tounderstand these relationships.

Benefit and BaneTwo species that fall alongopposite sides of this contin-uum are horseshoe crabs andmosquitoes. Horseshoe crabsare commercially important tothe medical industry, and theyconstitute an important bait fish-ery. In addition, they support avariety of other species by pro-viding a rich source of proteinand nutrients in the form ofeggs produced when theymate each spring along theshores of the Delaware Bay.

Mosquitoes, on the other

hand, are a nuisance duringthe warmer months of the yearand can spread a variety ofhuman diseases, the mostrecent concern being WestNile virus. As a result, man-agers try to maximize horse-shoe crab populations toenhance the benefits they pro-vide, while, at the same time,minimizing or eliminating popu-lations of mosquitoes toreduce risks to human health.Mosquito managementinvolves spraying a pesticidein stagnant marsh watersbehind beaches where horse-shoe crabs spawn. This begsthe question: Do mosquitopesticides affect the develop-ment of newly laid horseshoecrab eggs? This is the questionI am working to answer alongwith Brian Marsh of the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service andPete VanVeld of the VirginiaInstitute of Marine Science.

Signature Species ofthe Delaware BayThe Atlantic horseshoe crabLimulus polyphemus has beencalled the “signature species”of the Delaware Bay. Thiswater body represents the cen-ter of the crab’s population,and Delaware Bay beachescomprise the largest horseshoecrab spawning grounds in theworld. For centuries, thousandsof horseshoe crabs havemigrated to spawn on theseshores each spring betweenApril and June. Their blue-green eggs, the size of smallball bearings, are a richsource of food for the widediversity of fauna that followthe spawning crabs to gorgeon the bountiful supply of eggsthey leave behind.

The size of the crab popula-tion is poorly understood andestimates are based on incom-

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Early research shows that mosquito insecticides may not affect developing horseshoe crab eggs and larvae, which lay prey for weeks as they mature.

By David Bushek, Assistant Professor, Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

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mature.

ry, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

PHOTO CREDIT: HASKIN SHELLFISH RESEARCH LABORATORY

plete and disjunct data(Atlantic States MarineFisheries Commission, 1998).Regardless, most estimatesclearly document a decliningpopulation throughoutDelaware Bay, includingbeaches at Cape May, andat Prime Hook and BombayHook National WildlifeRefuges.

Stranded crab surveys per-formed between 1985 and1995, by researchers MarkBotton of Fordam College andRobert Loveland of Rutgers,have indicated that naturalstrandings have decreased by90 percent on beaches inNew Jersey. Mark Botton’segg surveys also indicate a90 percent decline in the num-ber of eggs deposited onNew Jersey beaches between1990 and 1997.

A Critical SpeciesIn DeclineThe Atlantic States MarineFisheries Commission reportsthat trawling data in and out-side of Delaware Bay suggesta decline in crabs. Spawningsurveys have been conductedon the Delaware and NewJersey sides of the DelawareBay since 1990. While themethodology used for thesesurveys has varied and statisti-cal validity was not estab-lished until 1999 (Smith et al.,2002), the data does suggesta declining adult population ofalmost 90 percent.

Horseshoe crab spawningcoincides with the initiation ofseasonal spraying of pesti-cides to control mosquitoes.Waterways lined with marshesand other wetlands are idealbreeding grounds for mosqui-toes, and the Delaware Bay

and its tributaries are noexception. Spend a warm sum-mer evening enjoying thebeauty of a Delaware Baymarsh and you will soon seewhy. It will not take longbefore you begin to swat mos-quitoes, reach for a long-sleeved shirt and spray your-self with bug repellant fromhead to toe.

In addition to being a nui-sance, mosquito bites can alsospread deadly diseases likeWest Nile virus. As a result,marshes around the bay areroutinely sprayed with pesti-cides to kill mosquitoes thatmay danger human health.Unfortunately, like any otherpesticide, it is virtually impossi-ble to find one that targets andharms only a single species ortype of organism. So couldthere be a link between mos-quito spraying, horseshoe crabspawning and populationdecline?

Impact ofMosquito ControlThe presence of all life stagesof Limulus polyphemus in inter-tidal and nearshore areasmakes them vulnerable to thecontaminants associated withthose areas (Weis and Ma,1987). The role of contami-nant exposure in the decline ofthis species is one of the leaststudied factors in their mortali-ty, but potentially one of thegreatest contributors. One con-taminant of concern is the mos-quito larvicide known asmethoprene. Methoprene pre-vents mosquito larvae from

molting by disrupting the hor-mones that control this com-plex biological process.

Mosquitoes and horseshoecrabs are both arthropods, soboth go through several molts.To determine if methopreneaffects the development and sur-vival of horseshoe crabs, weexposed developing and newlyhatched larvae to environmental-ly relevant levels of methoprene.After following development andsurvival through the first larvalmolt, we were unable to detectany macroscopic effects. That is,all eggs and larvae appearedto develop normally, even at lev-els well above those applied tocontrol mosquitoes along theDelaware Bay. We are continu-ing to look for sub-lethal effectson biochemical activities withindeveloping embryos, but nonehave been detected to date.

The bad news is that we stilllack a good understanding ofthe causes related to thedeclining number of horseshoecrabs in the Delaware BayFishery restrictions are increas-ing, along with restrictions oncoastal development and theuse of spawning beaches dur-ing breeding periods, butadditional research into theeffects of contaminants andhabitat degradation in generalis needed.

For more information on thisand other research pertinent tospecies in the DelawareEstuary, please visitwww.HSRL.Rutgers.edu. ■

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mary mission is the conservation of theworld’s four remaining horseshoe crabspecies, started a community-based horse-shoe crab sanctuary program in 1999.

Horseshoe crab sanctuary status in the Stateof Delaware is facilitated by a little-used shell-fish regulation know as “S-56,” which hassince been changed to a horseshoe crab reg-ulation, “HC-9.” Under this regulation, “Anyland owner(s) may register their land with theState to be designated as a horseshoe crabsanctuary for a period to be specified by theland owner(s).”

With support from Andy Manus, the formerdirector of fish and wildlife for Delaware’sDepartment of Natural Resources andEnvironmental Control (DNREC), as well asDNREC’s Director of Fisheries, Charles Lesser,ERDG was able to craft this overlooked shell-

Communities Create Horseshoe Crab Sanctuaries

Interpretive signs depicting thelife cycles of horseshoe crabs can

be found at each of the fivehorseshoe crab sanctuaries

organized by the ERDG.

Radio wave receivers stationed along the coast allow scientists to better under-stand the movements of horseshoe crabs throughout the spawning season.

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he Delaware Bay encompasses the world’s largest horseshoe crabspawning habitat and foraging area for migrating shorebirds en route totheir Arctic breeding grounds. However, the vast majority of this statisti-cally significant habitat runs along the shoreline of coastal communities.

If we are to be successful in pro-tecting the horseshoe crab species,it is essential to inform and engagethese bayshore communities asconservation partners, becausethey are the ultimate stewards ofthe habitat these animals dependon for survival.

To address this concern, theEcological Research &Development Group (ERDG), anon-profit organization whose pri-

T

Approximately 14 miles ofDelaware’s coastline has been des-ignated as horseshoe crab sanctu-ary, and communities around theworld are taking notice.

By Glenn Gauvry, Director, Ecological Research & Development Group

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hoe Crab Sanctuariesfish regulation into a communityconservation program. Thechallenge was, and will con-tinue to be, articulating prop-erty rights, for many fear that byagreeing to sanctuary status,they will, in some manner, for-feit some of their rights as prop-erty owners. Since many inlandbay, coastal communities arenot incorporated, communalsanctuary status requiresapproval from each individualhomeowner.

In 2000, then GovernorThomas Carper attendedERDG’s dedication ceremonyto recognize the community ofBroadkill Beach as Delaware’sfirst community-based horse-

shoe crab sanctuary. Since thattime, ERDG has also estab-lished horseshoe crab sanctuar-ies at Prime Hook NationalWildlife Refuge (FowlerBeach), Slaughter Beach, KittsHummock and PickeringBeach, protecting over 14 milesof prime horseshoe crab crab-spawning and shorebird- forag-ing habitat. Through fundingprovided by the Partnership forthe Delaware Estuary, ERDGwas also able to design andinstall interpretive signs for eachsanctuary, all of which depictthe life cycle of this remarkablemariner.

As a result of funding providedthis year by the National Fish

and Wildlife Foundation,ERDG’s Community SanctuaryProgram will expand into NewJersey, with four communitiesready to begin the process.However, unlike Delaware,New Jersey does not have aregulation in place to supportthis program. Therefore, it willbe necessary to investigatestate and community local lawfor each community, so aneffective regulatory vehicle canbe established to accomplishsanctuary status.

For the past three years, ERDGhas also been working in Asia,home to three of the world’sfour remaining horseshoe crabspecies. Plans are now under

way for the first Asian horse-shoe crab sanctuary in Orissa,India.

For those communities whohave come to admire thisancient mariner, its survival rep-resents a story of remarkableevolutionary success who,unlike ourselves, has managedto harmonize with the environ-ment it depends upon for sur-vival for over 250 million years.And, by its survival, it con-tributes significantly to the bal-ance of nature.

For more information about theERDG and its horseshoe crabconservation work, please visitwww.HorseshoeCrab.org. ■

Not Just Another Pretty Face continued from page 3

or more and come ashoreannually to spawn.

Therein lies the stumbling block:the long haul to sexual maturity.Anytime you have an organismthat is long-lived and takes arelatively long time to mature,you have a population that isdifficult to manage for harvest-ing. Complicate that with multi-ple uses — like bait for eels andconch, the pharmaceuticalindustry, and nature’s need fora stable food chain — and youhave a management situation.That said, the peak spawningnight numbers (the highest num-ber bay wide) have remainedrelatively the same: about 1.3

million for each of the last fiveyears. So the managementpractices appear to be, at thevery least, stabilizing thespawning population.

The Crab That Keepson GivingBiomedically, the horseshoecrab is the most studied marineinvertebrate. Several NobelPrizes have been awarded toresearchers working on theircompound eyes, which is alsoknowledge that can beapplied to humans. Research atthe University of Delaware hasalso led to sutures and SaranWrap-like sheets being madefrom their chitin shells that are

used in Japan to suture cutsand wrap burn victims. Bothare naturally absorbed by thebody over the course of a fewweeks, so there is no need toremove them.

But the real story for most of uslies with Limulus AmebocyteLysate (LAL), a product madefrom the lysed, or rupturedwhite blood cells, of horseshoecrabs. LAL is currently irreplace-able due to its use in testingmedical implants (heart valves,

required by the Federal DrugAuthority. Similarly, allinjectable drugs are required tobe tested with LAL prior to distri-

bution. If that is not enough, theproduct is also approved foruse in testing for many bacterialdiseases, like spinal meningitis,as well as for many sexuallytransmitted diseases.

So you see, horseshoe crabsare not just another pretty face;in fact, they do not even havefaces. Rather, they are a signa-ture species for both theDelaware Bay and the pharma-ceutical industry worldwide. Formore information on horseshoecrabs, including how tobecome involved as a volun-teer, please visitwww.Ocean.UDel.edu/Horseshoecrab. ■

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hips, knees and even teeth), as

and see a real steamboat in operation, while doing hands-oneducational activities,” said Founder, Bart Hoebel, who is also apsychology professor at Princeton University. “The river is thedrinking water supply for 17 million people and provides abeautiful setting in which to learn clean-water ecology andAmerican history.”

SPLASH is available for booking between the months of Mayand October. The cost is $19 per person with a minimum chargeof $695, and discounts are available for non-profit organiza-tions. The typical trip lasts two hours, during which the boatanchors temporarily for festivities or educational activities.

For more information, please visit www.SteamboatClassroom.org, or to make a reservation, please contact BartHoebel by phone at (609) 921-6612, or by e-mail [email protected]. ■

V O L U M E 1 6 T I S S U E 312

N ow sailing the Delaware River at Lambertville, NewJersey, and New Hope, Pennsylvania, is a 49-passengerreplica of an 1850 steamboat named “SPLASH,” which

stands for Student Participation in Learning Aquatic Science andHistory. This steam-driven paddleboat tours historic sites along theriver as crew members teach lessons involving environmental edu-cation, science, American history, and social studies.

Purchased in 2000, relocated from Ohio, and renovated using$160,000 in loans, gifts, and grants, this Coast Guard-certifiedvessel is now taking reservations for business functions, schoolclasses, summer camps, scouting excursions, and adult groups ofall kinds. The ship comes equipped with marine safety equipment,interactive activities, and instructional tools such as microscopesand science kits.

“This is an exciting, unique opportunity to experience the river

Steamboat ExploresDelaware River Historyand Ecology

oise State University’sEnvironmental FinanceCenter recently released awatershed planning toolcalled Plan2Fund Version

2.0. This free computer software helpsorganizations meet their long-term fund-ing goals and objectives by guidingthem through the fundraising processfrom start to finish.

Plan2Fund breaks down goals andobjectives into individual tasks, each ofwhich corresponds with an assigneddeadline and an estimated cost. Oncethis information has been entered, userscan generate a number of reports thatmake fundraising significantly more effi-cient. Examples of the reports available

include “Comprehensive PlanningSummary”, “Comprehensive BudgetSummary”, “Tasks By Responsible Entity”,and more.

Plan2Fund will also help users managegrant proposals given its ability to trackdeadlines and manage contact informa-tion. Reports within this applicationinclude “Grants By Status”, “Grants ByDeadline Date”, “Total BalanceNeeded By Year”, and more.

Also available for use from theEnvironmental Finance Center is the“Directory of Watershed Resources”, anonline database of funding programs.Some of these resources are not appli-cable to organizations in the Delaware

Estuary. However, the database’s com-prehensive listing of federal and inter-state agency programs applies to envi-ronmental organizations nationwide.

To download Plan2Fund Version 2.0and the “Directory of WatershedResources” for free, please visithttp://SSPA.BoiseState.edu/EFC.Visitors can also access a MicrosoftPowerPoint presentation on the website’s“Recent Presentations” page that willguide them in the use of this softwareand explain its successful applications inthe Pacific Northwest. To obtain a copythrough the mail, please call toll free(866) 627-9847. ■

BBy Shaun Bailey, Marketing andCommunications Specialist, Partnershipfor the Delaware Estuary

Plan2Fund: A DevelopmentDirector’s New Best Friend

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13E S T U A RY N E W S T S P R I N G 2 0 0 6

Horseshoe Crab Trivia Quiz

Name: _________________________________________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________________________________

City _____________________________________________State_________ Zip_____________

1. Horseshoe crabs have been around since the days of the dinosaurs. True orFalse

2. How many eyes does a horseshoe crab have? ________________3. Horseshoe crabs molt five times over ten years. True or False4. The Delaware Bay has the third largest population of spawning horseshoe crabs

in the world. True or False5. What does acronym “LAL” stand for? __________________________________________

To help raise awareness of thehorseshoe crab, the Partnershipfor the Delaware Estuary has cre-

ated a fuzzy version of this amazingarthropod.

You can win your very own plush horseshoe crab bybeing one of the first 50 Estuary News readers tocorrectly answer all six of the trivia questions below.The answers to the questions can all be found in thisissue of Estuary News. Only one entry per householdcan be entered. Completed forms can either be mailed orfaxed to our office at:

Partnership for the Delaware Estuaryc/o Horseshoe Crab Trivia Quiz

One Riverwalk Plaza110 South Poplar Street, Suite 202

Wilmington, DE 19801

FAX: (302) 655-4991

All entries must be received by Friday, June 12, 2006.

For information about how you can order one of our plush horseshoe crabs, please visit the”PartnerSHOP” online at www.DelawareEstuary.org.

HAVE YOU HUGGED A HORSESHOECRAB TODAY?

06-004 EN Spring wip3 4/28/06 11:10 AM Page 14

Sojourn CentralSchuylkill River Sojourn: Saturday, June 3, to Saturday, June 10, 2006Information: www.SchuylkillRiver.org/Sojourn.aspx, or (484) 945-0200

Delaware River Sojourn: Sunday, June 18, to Sunday, June 25, 2006Information: www.DelawareRiverSojourn.org, or (609) 883-9500, extension 205

Lehigh River Sojourn: Saturday, July 23, to Thursday, July 27, 2006Information: www.wildlandspa.org/calendar/sojourn.html, or (610) 965-4397

V O L U M E 1 6 T I S S U E 314

sans and crafters displaying their works.Please call the Bayshore DiscoveryProject at (856) 785-2060 for more infor-mation, and do not forget to visit thebooth hosted by Partnership for theDelaware Estuary and the Delaware RiverBasin Commission.

Schuylkill River Canal DaysSaturday, June 24, toSunday, June 25, 2006Lock 60, Mont Clare, Pennsylvania

Come out the evening of June 24 toenjoy music, good food and lots of fun onand off the water from 6:00 to 11 p.m.Then, on June 25 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.,participate in a six-mile Schuylkill RiverTrail Run, fishing derby, NationalChampionship Canal Joust, CanalVaulting Competition, canoe and kayakraces, and much more. Visitors are alsowelcome to visit the Locktender’s Houseto learn about the history of the SchuylkillNavigation Company, listen to five differ-

ent bands and participate in threescheduled lock openings. For com-

plete details, advance tickets anddirections, please visit theSchuylkill Canal Association’swebsite at www.SchuylkillCanal.com, or call (610) 917-0021.

Delaware EstuaryWatershed Workshop for

TeachersMonday, July 10, toFriday, July 14, 2006Throughout the Delaware Estuary

Over the past 10 years, the Partnershipfor the Delaware Estuary has immersedmore than 250 teachers in a wide range

of laboratory and field experiencesacross the tri-state Estuary region, all ofwhich have been taught by Estuaryexperts. Participants have gained informa-tion, references, methods, and activityplans that are all applicable in the class-room. The agenda for this year’s work-shop includes many learning opportuni-ties, such as oil spill seminars, experimentsled by scientists, an overnight stay at thebayside campus of the University ofDelaware in Lewes, and more. Teacherswill also receive classroom equipmentworth more than $250, and free accom-modations and mealsthroughout the week-long program. Formore information,please call LisaWool, at(800) 445-4935, exten-sion 105.

Experiencethe EstuaryCelebrationTuesday, September 12, 20065:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.Wilmington Waterfront, Delaware

Last year, “Delaware Today” Magazinecalled the Partnership for DelawareEstuary’s annual dinner and reception “ahidden gem,” and “the most creativefundraiser” its correspondent attendsevery fall. The evening will include a silentauction, exquisitely prepared food,Delaware Bay oysters, cocktails, livemusic, giveaways, and so much more. Forsponsorship and ticket information, pleasecall Dee Ross at (800) 445-4935, exten-sion 106.

HorseshoeCrab &ShorebirdFestivalSaturday, May27, 200610 a.m.

to 4 p.m.Milton Memorial

Park, Milton, Delaware

Now in its third year, thispopular and growing festival helps toraise awareness for horseshoe crabs andmigratory shorebirds in the DelawareEstuary. Its 1,500 plus visitors enjoy crafts,food, educational and environmental dis-plays, art exhibits, and more. For addi-tional information, please contact BillJones of Prime Hook National WildlifeRefuge at (302) 684-8419.

Delaware Bay DaysSaturday, June 3, toSunday, June 4, 2006Bivalve, Port Norris andShellpile, New Jersey

Delaware Bay Days is afun-filled festival cele-brating the rich mar-itime history, vibrant cul-ture and phenomenalnatural resources of theDelaware Bay.Attractions include astreet parade through thehistoric oyster town of PortNorris, dozens of activities for chil-dren and adults, and much more.Throughout the day you can satisfy yourhunger by visiting many food vendors,where fresh seafood, soul food andhomemade fare will be available. Therewill also be entertainment for all, and arti-

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15E S T U A RY N E W S T S P R I N G 2 0 0 6

Saturday, September 16, 2006; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Fairmount Park’s Water Works, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Now in its fifth year, Southeastern Pennsylvania Coast Day has part-nered with Fairmount Park’s annual “Walk/Run for the Park,” and thePhiladelphia Water Department’s “Fun Philly Fishing Fest,” to bring

you a trio of terrific events called “PARK FEST 2006 – Fish, Run, Walk, PlayAlong the Schuylkill River All Day.” Coast Day will feature more than 20 inter-

active displays and children’s activities sponsored by a variety of environmental organizations from through-out the region. For more information, please call (800) 445-4935, extension 106, or visitwww.DelawareEstuary.org.

30th Annual Delaware Coast DaySunday, October 1, 2006; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The University of Delaware’s Hugh R. Sharp Campusin Lewes, Delaware

Discover the fascinating world of marine sciencethrough lectures, research demonstrations, a nauticalcrafts show, crab cake cook-off, seafood chowder

challenge, Delaware Bay Oyster tasting, and much more. Kids will especially enjoy the ship tours, touchtanks and countless other activities. This award-winning event attracts more than 10,000 visitors each year.Count yourself among them when you visit the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary’s booth to sample andlearn about Delaware Bay oysters. For more information on this free celebration, please call (302) 831-

8083, or visit www.ocean.udel.edu.

Coast Day New JerseySaturday, October 7, 2006, Long BeachIsland, New Jersey, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, October 8, 2006; Cape May, NewJersey, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Coast Day New Jersey is dedicated to increasing awareness and stewardship for New Jersey’smarine, coastal, and estuarine environments. Each day offers exhibits, tours, demonstrations, anddeck and dock tours, all of which are free of charge and emphasize the region’s commercial fish-

ing industry. Please call the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium at (732) 872-1300, extension 22, orvisit www.NJMSC.org for additional information.

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Southeastern Pennsylvania Coast Day

V O L U M E 1 6 T I S S U E 316

Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, Inc.Kathy Klein, Executive DirectorTel: (800) 445-4935 ext. 102 / Fax: (302) 655-4991E-mail: [email protected]

Environmental Protection Agency

Irene Purdy, EPA Region IITel: (212) 637-3845 / Fax (212) 637-3889E-mail: [email protected]

Amie Howell, EPA, Region IIITel: (215) 814-5722 / Fax: (215) 814-2301E-mail: [email protected]

Pennsylvania

Andrew ZembaDepartment of Environmental ProtectionTel: (717) 772-5633 / Fax: (717) 783-4690E-mail: [email protected]

Delaware

John KennelDepartment of Natural Resources and Environmental ControlTel: (302) 739-5726 ext. 109 / Fax: (302) 739-3491E-mail: [email protected]

New Jersey

Kerry Kirk PflughDepartment of Environmental ProtectionTel: (609) 663-7242 / Fax (609) 777-1282E-mail: [email protected]

Delaware River Basin Commission

Bob TudorTel: (609) 883-9500 ext. 208 / Fax (609) 883-9522E-mail: [email protected]

Philadelphia Water Department

Howard NeukrugTel: (215) 685-6319 / Fax: (215) 685-6207E-mail: [email protected]

Editor

Shaun Bailey, Marketing and Communications SpecialistPartnership for the Delaware Estuary

Layout & DesignJanet Andrews, LookSmartCreative

Partnership for the Delaware Estuary:a National Estuary ProgramThe Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, Inc., is a private, nonprofit organization established in

1996. The Partnership leads collaborative and creative efforts to protect and enhance the

Delaware Estuary and its tributaries for current and future generations. The Partnership is one of 28

National Estuary Programs. To find out how you can become one of our partners, call the

Partnership at 1-800-445-4935 or visit our website at www.DelawareEstuary.org.

US POSTAGENon-Profit Org

PAIDWilmington, DEPermit #1885

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■■ I no longer wish to receive Estuary News ■■ Send me Estuary News via e-mail

Send to: Partnership for the Delaware EstuaryOne Riverwalk Plaza, 110 S. Poplar St., Suite 202, Wilmington, DE 19801

You can also notify us by sending your request to [email protected]

The Estuary News encourages reprinting of its articles in other publications.Estuary News is published quarterly by the Partnership for the DelawareEstuary, Inc., under an assistance agreement (CE-993985-08-0) with the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The purpose of this newsletter is to pro-vide an open, informative dialogue on issues related to the Delaware EstuaryProgram. The viewpoints expressed here do not necessarily represent the viewsof the Partnership or EPA, nor does mention of names, commercial products orcauses constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. For informationabout the Delaware Estuary Program, call 1-800-445-4935.

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Partnership for the Delaware EstuaryOne Riverwalk Plaza110 S. Poplar Street, Suite 202Wilmington, DE 19801

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