NYSBA To Host Horseshoe Crab Harvest Ban Explainer
2.13.2026
Last December, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act. The law phases out commercial harvests of horseshoe crabs, with a full ban by 2029.
The New York State Bar Association is hosting a webinar to explain why there is a ban and what attorneys should know about it.
Horseshoe crabs are a keystone species, meaning they play a critical role in supporting their local ecosystems. In particular, birds, turtles, and fish feed on horseshoe crab eggs.
Horseshoe crabs are often referred to as a “living fossil” as the species is largely unchanged since it first appeared 200 million years ago.
However, the population has sharply declined due to overharvesting for use as bait and in biomedical research. New York is the third state to ban horseshoe crab harvesting, following Connecticut and New Jersey. Other states are considering similar measures.
The program, “New York’s Horseshoe Crab Harvest Ban: The Legal and Legislative Path to Protection for a Keystone Species,” will take place from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11.
The speakers will be:
- Will Harlan, southeast director and senior scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity.
- Danny Waltz, southeast senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity.
The program is sponsored by the New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Animals and the Law. It is free for association members as part of as one of the many benefits of the association’s all-inclusive membership package. Attendees will receive one credit in Areas of Professional Practice.
