Letters

As reported in The Press, the New York State Legislature recently considered a proposal to increase the protection of Atlantic horseshoe crabs [“Governor ‘Drops the Axe’ on Horseshoe Crabs, Vetos Bill That Would Have Ended Commercial Harvest,” 27east.com, December 18]. Assemblyman Fred Thiele voted against the legislation, citing their value as bait in commercial fisheries.

Horseshoe crabs are also caught and drained of up to one-third of their blue blood and then released back to the sea alive. There are cells in their blood, which, like white cells in human blood, can recognize bacteria and other toxins. One use of their blood is to test for impurities in vaccines and antibiotics. According to Wikipedia, horseshoe crab blood was used in the development of the initial COVID vaccine.

Governor Kathy Hochul eventually vetoed the bill.

The fossil record shows that horseshoe crabs have undergone few morphological changes since their emergence in the early Triassic Period. They’ve survived mass extinctions, volcanic upheavals, ice ages, asteroid strikes. Yet, human activities, in particular habitat destruction and overharvesting, may represent their biggest challenge.

In response to this fact, the states of New Jersey, Delaware and South Carolina have invigorated public efforts to ensure their survival. New Jersey has banned their harvest outright.

Wade Higgins

Bridgehampton