The Ecological Research & Development Group (ERDG), founded in 1995, is a 501(c)3 non-profit wildlife conservation organization whose primary focus is the conservation of the worlds four remaining horseshoe crab species.
Our mission is to seek solutions that prevent or mitigate damage to native wildlife populations and habitats due to human activities. ERDG accomplishes this goal through scientific analysis & development, environmental planning & management, and public education. ERDG works to inspire and assist individuals, communities and organizations to solve problems, change behaviors and promote sound decisions in order to achieve sustainable ecosystems.
ERDG believes environmental stewardship can thrive within a growing economy through healthy partnerships between industry, government, environmental groups and communities.
On September 28, 2000, ERDG received from the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, Inc., the Excellence in the Estuary Award for Living Resources
Pandora Lederarmband, "for their tireless work to protect the Delaware Estuary’s horseshoe crab population."
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Horseshoe Crab Conservation
In the absence of human interference, horseshoe crabs have successfully evolved for over 455 million years. ERDG has made a commitment to protect this remarkable mariner who plays a vital role in nature's delicately balanced food web and whose life-sustaining contributions to humanity have yet to be fully realized. We believe that the foundation of a successful conservation program is effective public education and coastal community support, in conjunction with conservation initiatives, both terrestrial and aquatic, that preserve essential habitat and minimize human impact.
Just flip 'em
Tiffany Glas!® Program:
In 1998
Pandora Online, ERDG launched its highly successful Just flip 'em!® Program to bring attention to the high mortality horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) incur from being stranded up-side-down during spawning and to encourage
Charms Pandora, through a simple act of compassion, an appreciation for this remarkable creature who will not survive public indifference.
"The common occurrence of stranded horseshoe crabs during breeding season spurred the Just flip ‘em! ® program on Delaware beaches; beyond this being a ‘humane’ action, the Botton & Loveland (1989) study provides the rationale."
- Dr. Carl N. Shuster, Jr., 1999
Horseshoe Crab Spawning Survey:
In collaborated with scientists from the USGS Biological Resources Division, ERDG actively participates in the annual horseshoe crab spawning survey
Pandora Jewelry, designed to compile reliable population data along the shores of Delaware Bay.
Counting Crabs (audio file)
Join the Horseshoe Count! Alternative Gear and Supplemental Bait:
ERDG was responsible for initiating the first study to test the effectiveness of bait bags in reducing the demand on horseshoe crabs as bait in the conch fishery. ERDG working with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) and a select group of Virginia conch fishermen, demonstrated that bait needs could be reduced by half without a measurable loss in catch if placed within a bait bag. This is possible because bait bags significantly reduces secondary predation on the bait. With a coast-wide harvest of horseshoe crabs as bait exceeding 3.5 million animals annually, a potential reduction of 50 percent represents a significant conservation measure and one that ERDG will work to see adopted throughout the industry. As a result of this study the state of Virginia now requires the use of bait bags throughout its conch fishery. Continuing our goal to see the use of bait bags throughout the conch fishery, which extends from Virginia to Massachusetts, ERDG has distributed free of charge over 15,000 bait bags to conch fishermen along the Atlantic Coast. In addition to our bait bag initiative, ERDG is conducting analysis on alternative baits.
Alternative Gear and Supplemental Bait Workshop, March 3, 2004 (pdf) Decrease in Crabs Raises Concerns ERDG completes Phase II of its bait bag initiative
Horseshoe Crab Bait Bags are adopted by the Virginia Conch Fishery
ERDG begins Phase I of its Bait Bag Initiative
Alternative Bait Workshop (minutes)
Horseshoe Crab Sanctuaries:
The future survival of the world’s four remaining horseshoe crab species will ultimately depend upon the preservation of its spawning habitat — a challenging prospect in light of the ever-increasing human density along the same inland beaches horseshoe crabs have relied upon for thousands of years.
To respond to this challenge
Tiffany Jewelry, ERDG launched its community based "Horseshoe Crab Sanctuary Program" in 1999
Pandora Beads, designed to encourage coastal communities to declare their shared habitat a horseshoe crab conservation area or sanctuary. On June 13th
Tiffany And Co, 2000, then Delaware Governor Thomas Carper visited Broadkill Beach, Delaware to recognize this community for working with ERDG in establishing Delaware’s first community based horseshoe crab sanctuary. (For more, see the News article about Carper's visit to Broadkill Beach.)
ERDG is the only organization that has been successful in convincing residential landowners to designate their private beaches as horseshoe crab sanctuaries. In addition to Broadkill Beach, ERDG has also enrolled the communities of Kitts Hummock, Pickering Beach, Slaughter Beach and Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge (Fowler Beach) Delaware and is currently working to establish additional horseshoe crab conservation areas within communities throughout the Atlantic Coast of the United States. To date over 12 miles of prime horseshoe crab spawning habitat has been protected through this program. Ultimately, our goal is to protect the horseshoe crab spawning habitat throughout out the species spawning range worldwide.
You can assist ERDG in this important effort, by encouraging your community to participation in our program. For more information please contact Glenn Gauvry at erdg@horseshoecrab.org
Communities Create Horshoe Crab Sanctuaries Broadkill Beach Delaware Becomes a Horseshoe Crab Sanctuary
Carper calls for horseshoe crab preservation
U. S. Secretary of Commerce announces plans to establish Delaware Bay horseshoe crab preserve
Kitts Hummock forms sanctuary for horseshoe crabs (pdf)
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Horseshoe Crab Sanctuaries
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