Blood of Blue: The Hidden Value of Horseshoe Crabs | FFA

The Marine Biological Laboratory’s Marine Resources Center (MRC) provided fertilized horseshoe crab eggs for students at Bristol County Agricultural High School in Dighton, Massachusetts, to raise for release, supporting hands-on learning in marine biology and conservation.

Overharvesting, habitat loss and the continued use of horseshoe crabs as bait have all taken a toll on this ancient species. The process of collecting their blood involves extracting it near the heart, and although many crabs are returned to the ocean, not all survive the procedure. Conservationists and students alike are working to change that.

At Bristol County Agricultural High School in Dighton, Mass., students are taking the initiative to make a difference. In partnership with the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, the school has launched a horseshoe crab head-start program.

“We will raise juvenile horseshoe crabs in our laboratory until they pass their most vulnerable stages and are ready to be released,” says William O’Keefe, a senior in the environmental engineering program. This student-led project not only supports conservation efforts, but also empowers young agricultural leaders to take active roles in protecting marine ecosystems. Read more of the article here.

Source: Blood of Blue: The Hidden Value of Horseshoe Crabs | FFA (Future Farmers of America)