The NYSDEC / Cornell Cooperative Extension Horseshoe Crab Spawning Study is a collaborative conservation and research effort that was initiated in 2004. Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Marine Program and Stony Brook University work with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to coordinate and implement this project. The study monitors spawning horseshoe crabs at sites throughout Long Island and across New York’s Marine District to gain a better understanding of their abundance and distribution in New York State.

The intent of this statewide network is to encourage community participation in annual horseshoe crab monitoring efforts. Participants assist with the collection of scientific data that is used to assess the status of horseshoe crabs in New York State and to inform the management and conservation of this important species throughout the region.

There are currently 28 reference beaches participating in the study, and the Fishers Island site has been monitored since 2014 by the Fishers Island School. The data collected at these sites is used to assess the status of horseshoe crabs in New York State and to help inform management and conservation decisions for this important species.