1. Assessment of Spawning HorseshoeAssessment of Spawning Horseshoe
Crabs in Mid-Atlantic National ParksCrabs in Mid-Atlantic National Parks
Patti RaffertyPatti Rafferty
National Park Service, Gateway National Recreation AreaNational Park Service, Gateway National Recreation Area
Dr. Mary-Jane JamesDr. Mary-Jane James
University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography,University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography,
Narragansett, RINarragansett, RI

2. Global Distribution ofGlobal Distribution of
Horseshoe CrabsHorseshoe Crabs

3. Horseshoe Crab Life CycleHorseshoe Crab Life Cycle

4. Ecological and Socio-EconomicEcological and Socio-Economic
Value of American HorseshoeValue of American Horseshoe
Crabs (Crabs (Limulus polyphemusLimulus polyphemus))
 Important part of the marine ecosystemImportant part of the marine ecosystem
predators and preypredators and prey
eggs - food source for migrating shorebirdseggs - food source for migrating shorebirds
proposed listing of Red Knotproposed listing of Red Knot
 Valuable socio-economic speciesValuable socio-economic species
bait for eel and conch fisherybait for eel and conch fishery
Limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL)Limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL)

5. Coastal New York and NewCoastal New York and New
Jersey National ParksJersey National Parks

6. E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C AE X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

7. E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C AE X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

8. Understanding Movement andUnderstanding Movement and
Population DynamicsPopulation Dynamics
 US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) CooperativeUS Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Cooperative
tagging programtagging program
 Sonic transmitter tagsSonic transmitter tags

9. E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C AE X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

10. Release location
← Big Egg
← Breezy Beach
← Canarsie
← Elders East/West
← Wildlife Refuge
← Yellow Bar
Graphical representation of horseshoe crab movement as detected on the Jamaica Bay
SUR array. Arrows indicate direction of travel from release location. Colored lines
indicate the different release locations and where the crabs were detected within the SUR
array after release.
Where are Horseshoe Crabs inWhere are Horseshoe Crabs in
Jamaica Bay?Jamaica Bay?

11. USFWS CooperativeUSFWS Cooperative
Tagging ProgramTagging Program
 USFWS provides tags, signage and managesUSFWS provides tags, signage and manages
national data basenational data base
 Prosomal width, sex, and location of each taggedProsomal width, sex, and location of each tagged
horseshoe crab are recorded and reported tohorseshoe crab are recorded and reported to
national data basenational data base
 Recapture sightings provide data on regionalRecapture sightings provide data on regional
movement patterns and population dynamicsmovement patterns and population dynamics
 Reward for reporting tag number, location of crab,Reward for reporting tag number, location of crab,
and if crab was live or dead by phone or on-lineand if crab was live or dead by phone or on-line

12. Please Report Suspected PoachingPlease Report Suspected Poaching
 Please do not confront the harvester(s). Your safety isPlease do not confront the harvester(s). Your safety is
always the highest priority.always the highest priority.
 Be a good witness - record location and time that youBe a good witness - record location and time that you
observed the harvest activity; boat registration numbersobserved the harvest activity; boat registration numbers
(on the side of a boat); description of the boat or any(on the side of a boat); description of the boat or any
persons; license plate, make and model of vehicles (ifpersons; license plate, make and model of vehicles (if
any); etc.any); etc.
 Report the incident:Report the incident:
Park Police (718) 338-3988Park Police (718) 338-3988
New York State Department of EnvironmentalNew York State Department of Environmental
Conservation 877-257-5680.Conservation 877-257-5680.

13. To Volunteer Contact:To Volunteer Contact:
Jolene WillisJolene Willis
EcologistEcologist
Gateway National Recreation AreaGateway National Recreation Area
(718) 338-3338 ext. 223(718) 338-3338 ext. 223
Jolene_willis@nps.govJolene_willis@nps.gov
Keith E. WhiteKeith E. White
VIP/Volunteer CoordinatorVIP/Volunteer Coordinator
Gateway National Recreation AreaGateway National Recreation Area
(718) 354-4657(718) 354-4657
keith_white@nps.govkeith_white@nps.gov