Horseshoe Crab Spawning Survey at Big Stone Beach

Each spring, horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) spawning surveys are conducted at over 20 Delaware Bayshore beaches, including Big Stone Beach, Delaware. These surveys, which are implemented by state and federal agencies, corporations and NGOs, take place on 12 distinct nights to coincide with the evening high tide on and around the full and new moons in May and June, when peak horseshoe crab spawning takes place. Because Delaware Bay supports the largest spawning population of horseshoe crabs in the world, thousands of these primitive arthropods are counted across Delaware Bayshore beaches, often with the help of community scientists.