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 3100 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.
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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