It’s that time of year again when the state starts looking for coastal
residents to help them monitor horseshoe crab mating activities around the
state.
Horseshoe
crabs are an important part of the marine ecosystem.
Their eggs
are a food source for animals and birds.
Horseshoe
crabs have also proved valuable to human medicine.
Pharmaceutical
companies use horseshoe crab blood to ensure intravenous drugs and vaccine
injections are bacteria-free and sterile.
Scientists
are also using horseshoe crabs in cancer research.
Horseshoe
crabs have been around for nearly 450 million years, but their populations have
been dwindling because of overfishing and habitat loss.
In 2002 the
Florida Marine Research Institute started a statewide survey for nesting beaches
where horseshoe crabs mate.
Since
then the state has received nearly 3500 reports of horseshoe crab mating
activities – many from Franklin County which turns out to be a popular place
for horseshoe crab romance.
The best time to find horseshoe crabs spawning is around a high
tide right before or just after a full moon.
The conditions around the new moon, which is today, and the full moon on March 23rd will
create ideal opportunities to see the horseshoe crabs in action.
To
make a report – just go on-line to MyFWC.com and fill out the online survey or report
findings by e-mail at horseshoe@MYFWC.com.
http://live.oysterradio.com/
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