Influence of the biomedical (LAL/TAL) industry on the conservation of horseshoe crabs

T. J. NOVITSKY Ph.D.,Horseshoe Crab Conservation Association,

Cape Cod, MA, USA

Biomedical Importance of the Horseshoe Crab

• Horseshoe Crab Research in Woods Hole• Importance of Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL)• US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Involvement• Initial Environmental Concerns related to LAL• Growth of the LAL Market• Use of the Horseshoe Crab as Bait and Evolution of

Conflicts with LAL Manufacturing

Horseshoe Crab Research on Cape Cod

• Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole

• Carl Shuster, Jr. & the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)

• Stanley W. Watson & WHOI

• Associates of Cape Cod, Inc., Falmouth

• Horseshoe Crab Conservation Association

Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL)

• Leo Loeb - 1902

• Frederik B. Bang - 1956

• Jack Levin – 1964

• Robert Barlow -1969

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

• Carl N. Shuster, Jr. - 1949

• Stanley W. Watson – 1974

• Thomas J. Novitsky and S. W. Watson 1977

Associates of Cape Cod, Inc.

• Stanley W. Watson and James Sullivan – 1977

• Thomas J. Novitsky – 1978 – 2004

• Seikagaku Corporation, Tokyo Japan - 1998

First Wood Hole Horseshoe Crab ConferenceOctober 1978

• Biomedical Applications of the Horseshoe Crab (Limulidae) E. Cohn et. al. eds.

• Carl Shuster, Jr., Frederik B. Bang, Jack Levin, & Stanley W. Watson

• 10 Papers on General Biology & Ecology• 54 Papers on Biomedical Research• 38 (of the 54) Papers on LAL• Notable Paper: Limulus polyphemus, a Target of

Opportunity, Sidney R. Galler, Deputy Asst. Secy. For Environmental Affairs, US Dept. of Commerce

Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Concerns

• As a direct result of Galler’s conference paper the United States Food and Drug Administrated appropriated funds for a study on the mortality of bleeding.

• Anne Rudloe, who also presented a paper at the conference, was awarded a grant for the study. She found about a 10% mortality.

• As a result of this study, the FDA instituted a rule to release crabs following bleeding.

Early LAL Manufacturers

• John Dubczak then with Travenol Laboratories, attended the first conference. As his attendencehere attests, he is still active in horseshoe crab affairs with Charles River Endosafe.

• It would be remiss not to mention Dr. James Cooper who could not attend this conference but was instrumental in early research with the FDA, with Jack Levin, as a consultant for the 2nd

licensed LAL manufacturer Mallinkrodt, and finally as the founder of Endosafe. He continues an active interest horseshoe crabs.

Other Woods Hole Conferences

• Intenational Conference on Endotoxin Standards and Limulus Amebocyte Lysate Use with Parenteral Drugs, September 1981

• International Conference on the Detection of Bacterial Endotoxins with the Limulus Amebocyte Lysate Test, September 1985

Rise in Worldwide Demand for LAL Raises Conservation Concerns

• Demand for LAL grew steadily from 1977 with the horseshoe crab supply becoming critical during the late 1990’s

• Just as the LAL market was rapidly expanding, demand for horseshoe crabs as bait increased dramatically

• Ecologists also noticed a decline in migratory shore birds in Delaware Bay and made a strong case for a connection with declining horseshoe crab populations

Cape Cod Specific Conservation Concerns

• Continual Harvesting for Biomedical Use since 1974 especially in Pleasant Bay

• Cape Cod National Seashore and Monomoy Wildlife Refuge closed to all harvesting since 2000

• Pleasant Bay closed to bait harvesting since 2005

• Small local populations recently decimated

*From: Massachusetts 2010 Compliance Report to the Atlantic States Fisheries Commission ---Horseshoe Crabs (Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries)

MA Horseshoe Crab Bait Landings 2000-2010

0.00

50,000.00

100,000.00

150,000.00

200,000.00

250,000.00

300,000.00

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Year

Nu

mb

er

of

cra

bs h

arv

este

d f

or

bait

Figure 1. Massachusetts Horseshoe Crab Bait Landings 2000-2010 (2010 is year-to-date)

Approximately 72% (37,837) of the crabs were reportedly taken off spawning beaches by hand

or rake harvest while draggers and dredge boats landed approximately 19% (9,896). The

following reporting discrepancies exist to date and are being investigated:

Total sold from MA dealer reporting: 53,343 crabs

Total sold from MA fisherman reporting: 54,782 crabs

Discrepancy: 1,439 more crabs reported by fishermen

The breakdown by disposition is as follows:

Total used for bait: 52, 833 crabs

Total used for bait not sold by fisherman reporting (personal use): 1,921 crabs

Total retained for personal use (food): 3,377 crabs

Total unspecified: 8,912 crabs

Bait Sold from Fisherman Reporting: 54,782 crabs

Bait from Dealer Reporting: 43,842 crabs

Unknown disposition from Dealer Reporting: None

Discrepancy: 10,940 more crabs reported by fishermen

Scientific and research facilities reported collecting or purchasing fewer that 1,000 horseshoe

crabs from fishermen. None of these crabs were returned to water.

As the biomedical permit holders who collected crabs in 2010 sell to the Commonwealth’s single

biomedical dealer, their harvest numbers cannot be released. Massachusetts General Laws,

Chapter 130, §21 protects the confidentiality of any person or business who submits such

statistics.

3

Fig. 1. Massachusetts Horseshoe Crab Bait Landings 2000 – 2010 (2010 is year-to-date)*

RHODE ISLAND, S.E. MASSACHUSETTS & CAPE COD

Woods Hole

Woods Hole

Pleasant Bay

Woods Hole

Narragansett Bay, RI

Pleasant Bay

Woods Hole

Narragansett Bay, RI

Pleasant Bay

Monomoy

Woods Hole

Narragansett Bay, RI

Pleasant Bay

Monomoy

Cape Cod National Seashore

Barnstable Harbor

Stage Harbor

Buzzards Bay

Wellfleet Bay

Horseshoe Crab Conservation Association

• Formed in 1999 by Hoyt and Debbie Eckert

• Thomas J. Novitsky invited to join as LAL representative in 2000

• Importance of LAL used as the primary argument for conservation on Cape Cod

• Pleasant Bay closed to bait collection

• Continual reassessment of all harvesting resulted in new regulations for all users

HORSESHOE CRAB CONSERVATION ASSOCIATIONstatement of purpose

• The goal of the Horseshoe Crab Conservation Association is to ensure long-term sustainable populations of horseshoe crabs in the state’s (Massachusetts) estuaries and embayments.

• To accomplish this goal, the Association intends to pursue several approaches for horseshoe crab protection.

Approaches for the Protection of Horseshoe Crabs

• Education about the ecological role of horseshoe crabs and their biomedical importance

• Support for research and field studies of horseshoe crabs and their habitats

• Advocacy for new regulations or legislation for horseshoe crab conservation

Examples of HCCA Activities

• Audubon Conferences 2009, 2011

• Influence changes in MA DMF regulations 2010

• Ancient Mariner art exhibit MBL 2010

• Promotion and coordination of population surveys

Biomedical Use Dilemma

• Argument to conserve horseshoe crabs for biomedical use only valid if no harm ensues

• Exemptions for biomedical use considered unfair by bait fishermen

• Initial estimates of bleeding mortality found to be too low

• Recent data indicates possible adverse effects on breeding due to bleeding

Resolution of Dilemma

• Continue to emphasize importance of the horseshoe crab for both ecology and biomed

• Eliminate exemptions for biomedical harvest

• Protect all populations by banning harvest during spawning

• Encourage LAL manufacturers and regulators to allow alternate tests for endotoxin

Horseshoe Crab Conservation AssociationMembers

• Brenda J. Boleyn, President

• Jane Corlette

• Michael E. Dawson, PhD, Secretary

• Hoyt Ecker

• Daniel G. Gibson, PhD, Vice-President

• Charles (Stormy) Mayo, PhD

• Albert (Skip) Norgeot

• Thomas J. Novitsky, PhD

• Erica P. Parra

• Robert L. Prescott

• M. Louise Russell (deceased)

• Barbara S. Waters

• Robert Barlow, PhD (deceased)

Dedication

This presentation is dedicated to the memory of two exceptional

members of the Committee for the Conservation of Horseshoe Crabs

Robert B. Barlow, Jr., Ph.D. 2009

M. Louise Russell 2011