SOURCE:
By Denise Civiletti - December 20, 2025
Gov. Kathy Hochul yesterday signed the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act, legislation that will phase out the taking of horseshoe crabs from New York waters for commercial and biomedical purposes over a three-year transition period, with a full prohibition taking effect in 2029, according to the bill’s lead Assembly sponsor, Deborah Glick.
The measure is a reversal from last year, when Hochul vetoed the same proposal. In her 2024 veto message, Hochul called the bill “well intentioned” but said marine-species management should be left to the state Department of Environmental Conservation; she also cited potential impacts on the commercial fishing industry and biomedical field.
In announcing the signing, Glick, chair of the Assembly’s Environmental Conservation Committee, said horseshoe crabs “are now struggling to survive the impacts of human activity,” and pointed to overharvesting for bait and biomedical use as drivers of decline. “By signing this legislation into law, New York is taking decisive action to protect a living fossil and the many species that depend on it,” she said.
Glick’s statement described horseshoe crabs as a keystone species and noted that the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has designated the horseshoe crab population as “poor” since 2019. Glick also pointed to the ecological links between horseshoe crab spawning and migratory shorebirds such as the red knot, which relies on horseshoe crab eggs to refuel during migration; in New York, the red knot is listed as a threatened species, she said.
Environmental advocates also welcomed the signing:
“Christmas came early for the Horseshoe Crabs! This is an amazing holiday gift, and Governor Hochul has given us a big reason to celebrate!” Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, said in a statement. Esposito said the law “will prevent the taking of horseshoe crab for commercial and biomedical purposes, allowing horseshoe crab populations to rebound” and thanked Hochul along with Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblymember Glick.
“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.”
Last year’s veto drew sharp criticism from environmental groups, who argued that DEC’s existing approach was not preventing continued declines. Hochul’s 2024 veto message pointed to DEC’s regulatory framework, including an annual quota of 150,000 horseshoe crabs and seasonal closures, and warned the legislation could have unintended consequences for other fisheries, including whelk and eel.
The Horseshoe Crab Protection Act has been the subject of repeated debate in Albany and on Long Island, where the animals are a familiar presence during spawning season on local beaches and in Long Island Sound.
