November 17, 2025 — The following was released by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission:
The Commission’s Horseshoe Crab Management Board is convening a stakeholder engagement process to inform revisions to the Delaware Bay Horseshoe Crab Adaptive Resource Management (ARM) Framework, including a series of three educational webinars and an in-person stakeholder workshop. The process will be facilitated by Compass Resource Management with the goal of identifying stakeholder values and perspectives in order to develop clear, actionable recommendations for revising core functions of the ARM Framework that reflect stakeholder priorities.
The ARM Framework is a model used by the Commission to set annual harvest levels for horseshoe crabs in the Delaware Bay region. The Framework is designed to balance the needs of the horseshoe crab fishery with the ecological needs of migratory shorebirds, particularly the rufa red knot, which depends on horseshoe crab eggs as a food source. Within the ARM Framework, three mathematical functions—the Utility, Reward, and Harvest Policy (U/R/H) functions—serve to align the model with the values and interests of stakeholders.
Three educational sessions will be held via webinar to build a shared understanding of the ARM Framework and the role of the U/R/H functions. These will be followed by a two-day values workshop, where participants will develop quantitative values representing the stakeholder groups’ interests for integration into the model and consensus recommendations for model updates. Fourteen individuals were selected to participate in this process and represent a broad range of stakeholder perspectives in this process, including commercial harvesters and dealers; biomedical industry representatives; and horseshoe crab, shorebird, and ecosystem conservationists. Other interested parties are welcome to attend the events as observers. Webinar details are as follows:
Educational Webinars: Session 1
Wednesday, December 10, 3 – 5 p.m.
Educational Webinars: Session 2
Monday, January 5, 1 – 3 p.m. OR Thursday, January 8, 3– 5 p.m.
Register for all sessions at this link:https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7735336331916384086
The material to be covered in these webinars is divided into two sessions. Session 1 will provide an overview of the purpose and scope of the stakeholder process, expectations for the workshop, and a high-level overview of horseshoe crab management using the ARM Framework. Session 2 will cover the role and mechanics of theU/R/H functions in more detail to develop a foundation for workshop discussions. All sessions will include opportunities for Q&A. Please note that the two January sessions will cover the same material but discussion topics will likely differ.
The in-person stakeholder workshop is scheduled for Thursday and Friday, January 29-30. The location is still being finalized but will likely be held in coastal Delaware or Maryland. A press release will be published with workshop details once they are set.
Webinar Instructions
To register for the virtual educational sessions please click HERE and select the webinar(s) you plan to attend from the dropdown menu. Please be sure to register for Session 1 and one of the Session 2 webinars. The sessions will be held via GoToWebinar, and you can join the webinar from your computer, tablet or smartphone. If you are new to GoToWebinar, you can download the software by (clicking here) or via the App store under GoToWebinar. We recommend you register for the sessions well in advance since GoToWebinar will provide you with a link to test your device’s compatibility with the webinar. If you find your device is not compatible, please contact the Commission at info@asmfc.org (subject line: GoToWebinar help) and we will try to get you connected. We also strongly encourage participants to use the computer voice over internet protocol (VoIP) so you can ask questions during the sessions. If you are joining the webinar but will not be using VoIP, you can also call in at 914.614.3221, access code 321-974-593. An audio PIN will be provided to you after joining the webinar.
Please note that in order to ask questions or comment during the virtual session you will need to use your computer or download the GoToWebinar app for your smart phone. Those joining by phone (audio only) will be limited to listening to the presentation and will not be able to provide input. To attend the webinar in listen only mode, dial 914.614.3221 and enter access code 321-974-593.
For those who cannot attend the webinars, they will be recorded and posted on the Commission’s YouTube page. For more information on the Commission and horseshoe crab management, please contact Caitlin Starks, Senior Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, at cstarks@asmfc.org or visit https://asmfc.org.