. Coast watch. Marine resources; Oceanography; Coastal zone management; Coastal ecology. e t w o r k news Researchers Don't Count Out Horseshoe Crabs — Count Them Instead As hordes of horseshoe crabs amassed on Delaware's Eastern Shore last month for an annual mating spree, scientists and volunteers took advan- tage of the lovesick creatures to conduct an important poll. Although it will take time to reach definitive conclusions based on this year's count, Delaware Sea Grant scientist Joe Farrell says, "Numbers from previous studies suggest a decline in the last 10 ; Habitat lo
. Coast watch. Marine resources; Oceanography; Coastal zone management; Coastal ecology. e t w o r k news Researchers Don't Count Out Horseshoe Crabs — Count Them Instead As hordes of horseshoe crabs amassed on Delaware's Eastern Shore last month for an annual mating spree, scientists and volunteers took advan- tage of the lovesick creatures to conduct an important poll. Although it will take time to reach definitive conclusions based on this year's count, Delaware Sea Grant scientist Joe Farrell says, "Numbers from previous studies suggest a decline in the last 10 ; Habitat loss explains the decline, but a steadily increasing harvest is also a contributor. Horseshoe crabs are taken primarily for their meat, which serves as bait for eel, conch and catfish. Additionally, crab blood is used for processing substances that detect bacterial contamination in pharmaceuticals and surgical im- plants. In February, Farrell brought industry leaders together to discuss the importance of wise management of horseshoe crabs in Delaware and to raise awareness of conservation efforts. With an aim to reduce harvesting pressure on the species, Farrell and other scientists are seeking funding to develop an artificial bait with all the luring attributes of crabmeat. Strange Sounds May Shoo Birds from Gill Nets In Washington's Puget Sound, gill nets often ensnare more than fish, and environmentalists have long called for a better method to catch fish without catching fish-eating birds. Scientists participating in a Washing- ton Sea Grant-led effort, funded by the National Marine Fisheries Service, are studying a way to make gill nets less lethal for birds. The researchers are experiment- ing with underwater sounds that alert common murres and other fish-eating birds to the presence of gill nets. Initial tests began at the Oregon Coast Aquarium, where scientists exposed the birds to a variety of sounds at different frequencies and intervals and observed the birds' respon
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