Public awareness and community-based conservation for the horseshoe crab at Saikai National Park in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan

Abstract

Formerly horseshoe crabs (Tachypleus tridentatus) were commonly distributed in Japan. However, the horseshoe crab population has been decreasing due to habitat loss caused by coastline development. The Saikai Pearl Sea Center Aquarium (SPSCA) has been conducting many activities for horseshoe crab conservation at Kujukushima Islands in Japan. In SPSCA, we attach great importance to cooperation with local fishermen for public awareness. Because there is so much by-catch of horseshoe crabs in the Kujukushima area, local fishermen bring us much useful information on distribution and habitat. Basically, horseshoe crabs are a burden to fishermen. We make much effort to deepen their understanding of horseshoe crabs. Recently local fishermen are recognizing that horseshoe crabs are endangered and valuable animals. We also exhibit living horseshoe crabs at SPSCA, give lectures to local schools, conduct excursions to observe the habitat of horseshoe crabs, engage in cooperation with local government, and publicize our work in newspapers and TV. For research activities, we measure morphology for all individual by-caught horseshoe crabs and submit blood samples for DNA analysis in Kyushu University. We report on the public awareness and research activities at SPSCA. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2009. All rights reserved.