Meaningful protections for vulnerable species will extend around entire Long Island Sound
Horseshoe crabs in New York State finally will receive meaningful protections after Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act into law on Friday.
When the law takes full effect in 2029, the harvesting of horseshoe crabs—which are considered vulnerable to regional extinction—for commercial and biomedical purposes will be prohibited in New York. This mirrors the protections already in place in Connecticut, creating consistent conditions around the entire coast of Long Island Sound to support the restoration of this 450-million-year-old species across our region.
“Horseshoe crabs have been around for hundreds of millions of years and are an indispensable part of a healthy Long Island Sound ecosystem. They provide a key food source for migratory birds, sportfish, sea turtles, and other species,” said David Ansel, vice president of the Center for Water Protection at Save the Sound. “We thank Gov. Hochul for taking this necessary step to protect this critical species, and Assemblymember Glick and Senator Hoylman-Sigal for sponsoring this important legislation.”