Letters

Group for the East End lends its voice to the inhabitants of our natural environment that cannot speak for themselves.

Take the American horseshoe crab. These arthropods have survived five mass extinctions on planet Earth in their 450-million-year existence. That’s an extraordinary feat. They are known as a keystone species, meaning other animals, such as migratory birds, depend on them for their own survival. Horseshoe crabs also have contributed to lifesaving medical advancements and improved human health.

Now, it is our turn to help them.

Comprehensive studies released this past summer reaffirm a drastic population decline over the last 25 years in our region. The studies, conducted by scientists at the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, underscored the dire need to enact stringent conservation measures to ensure that the species does not reach a point of no return. Commercial harvesting of horseshoe crabs for use as bait and for biomedical testing, combined with habitat loss, has depleted the population. As stewards of the environment, we have the responsibility to act.

For the second year in a row, the New York State Legislature passed the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act, which bans the commercial harvesting of horseshoe crabs in New York State. Last year, despite overwhelming public support, Governor Kathy Hochul vetoed the bill.

Group for the East End is once again urging the governor to sign the bill into law. Connecticut and New Jersey have already adopted similar measures. Given our shared coastal waters, a regional conservation approach that includes New York’s participation is critical. Horseshoe crabs need and deserve a place in our waters.

Please visit thegroup.org and join us in asking Governor Hochul to sign the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act today.

Jennifer Hartnagel

Group for the East End