“Horseshoe Crab Spawning Survey” (watch on VIMEO, 3 minutes and 28 seconds, ages 9 and up)
Monitoring horseshoe crab populations is an important responsibility of the NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Marine Fisheries Administration. One survey that is conducted annually is the Delaware Bay Horseshoe Crab Spawning Survey, which estimates spawning densities on Delaware Bay Beaches.
The Bureau of Marine Fisheries within NJDEP’s Division of Fish and Wildlife is responsible for the administration of marine fisheries management programs. The objective of the bureau is to protect, conserve, and enhance marine fisheries resources and their habitat. With 127 miles of Atlantic coast and 83 miles of bayshore, there’s a lot of area to cover. Living marine resources support important recreational and commercial fisheries throughout the State – including a tourism industry worth $16 billion – generating recreational and commercial fish revenues of about $2 billion. In an effort to manage the various resources, the Bureau conducts research and inventory projects designed to provide data on fishery resources and on the various user groups to develop and implement sound management plans. The Bureau is also involved with habitat protection. Through the Division’s Office of Environmental Review, the Bureau reviews and comments on various development proposals that may impact the marine resources. Visit the NJDEP website to learn more.