Almost two dozen groups, such as the Center for Biological Diversity and the Humane Society of the United States, have requested the federal government to classify the American horseshoe crab as an endangered species. This request is due to a significant decrease in horseshoe crab numbers, caused by overharvesting and loss of habitat. They have urged the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to include this marine creature in the Endangered Species Act. Horseshoe crabs have existed for over 450 million years and play a vital role in the ecosystem.
Horseshoe crabs are mainly harvested for their unique blue blood, used to identify toxins in drugs and medical equipment. The Center for Biological Diversity reports that nearly 1 million horseshoe crabs were harvested for their blood in 2022. The pharmaceutical industry’s continued use of horseshoe crab blood has resulted in a swift decline in this species’ population. However, there are non-animal alternatives to horseshoe crab blood, which are already in use in Europe.