Hope for Horseshoe Crab Conservation in Asia-Pacific

Paul K.S. SHIN
c/o Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Abstract. Horseshoe crabs in Asia-Pacific are under various threats, including loss of spawning/nursery habitats due to coastal development and overharvest for food and biomedical use, which cause their decline in populations across their distribution range. While horseshoe crabs are on the “Red Data” list and/or under protection regulations in some countries, they may still face eventual extirpation in some areas if current situation continues. Across Asia-Pacific, conservation efforts vary and much can be implemented to raise public awareness on the importance of horseshoe crabs in evolutionary history and ecosystem health, apart from ongoing scientific studies. This presentation addresses the conservation status of Asian horseshoe crabs and reports on the work of the IUCN Red List Assessment of Tachypleus tridentatus through the coordination of the Horseshoe Crab Specialist Group. Suggestions to initiating international collaborations towards a common goal to protect Asian horseshoe crabs are presented.

Keywords. Asian horseshoe crabs, conservation status, Red List Assessment, Tachypleus tridentatus, international collaborations