Conservation of the horseshoe crab at Kinmen, Taiwan: strategies and practices

In order to conserve the horseshoe crab, Tachypleus tridentatus, a famous 'living fossil' in Kinmen and Taiwan, several investigations related to its basic biology were conducted, and public education/participation programs were implemented. Biological investigations included artificially inducing spawning in the laboratory and field, rearing of juveniles, monitoring of habitat characteristics, and establishing a protected area. The grain size of the sediment of the spawning ground was 0.4-1.8 mm in diameter and that of the juvenile nursing ground was 0.11-0.19 mm. The most suitable water temperature for incubating eggs and rearing juveniles ranged from 28 to 31degreesC. A total of 800 ha of the coastal zone on Kinmen was designated a protected area for the horseshoe crab, based on the Fishery Law, in December 1999. Fishing is prohibited for the 5-year period from 2000 to 2004. Public education programs were conducted to help local people learn about the basic biology of the horseshoe crab, to become aware of its importance and the necessity for conservation, and to empower them to actively participate in the conservation of this species. In addition, a horseshoe crab conservation program has also been incorporated as an element of the local ecotourism industry. Biotechnology business opportunities that may be created as a result of viable horseshoe crab populations will also be promoted.