Horseshoe Crab Spawning Beach Survey Results

Thousands of reports from the public provide information about horseshoe crab mating activities on Florida beaches.

The FWC's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) enlists the public to help identify horseshoe crab spawning beaches within the state of Florida. Individuals report observations of spawning activity to the program through an online survey, e-mail alerts, and calls to the Horseshoe Crab Hotline, 866-252-9326. Through December 2011, FWRI had received 2,350 reports since it implemented the survey program in April 2002.

 Horseshoe crab spawning reports mapped by county 2002 through 2011

Observers in 34 coastal Florida counties have reported sightings of horseshoe crab
spawning activity, which FWRI records by county. The high numbers of reports from
Hillsborough and Pinellas counties reflect proximity to FWRI headquarters in
St. Petersburg, where awareness of the horseshoe crab reporting system is high.

 

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