Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.s) about Delaware Bay Rufa Red Knots and Horseshoe Crabs

Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.s) about Delaware Bay Rufa Red Knots and Horseshoe Crabs
Delaware Bay Rufa Red Knot and Horseshoe Crab FAQ_20221107.pdf431.62 KB

Frequently asked questions about rufa red knots and horseshoe crabs in Delaware Bay. Questions relate to population trends of both species, as well as management of the horseshoe crab harvest. This FAQ also includes information about conservation efforts for these species, and how the public can help recover red knots and horseshoe crabs. 

Author(s)
Wendy Walsh, New Jersey Field Office
Senior Fish & Wildlife Biologist
Endangered Species
Expertise
Endangered Species Act,
coastal issues (beach nourishment, dredging),
coastal species (rufa red knot, piping plover, seabeach amaranth)
Area
NJ
Galloway,NJ
Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Publication date
Type of document
Education
Facility
New Jersey Pinelands
New Jersey Ecological Services Field Office
The New Jersey Field Office protects endangered species, supports federal planning, mitigates environmental contamination, and partners with landowners to restore wildlife habitats. We work with others across New Jersey to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats...
Conservation Office
Galloway,NJ
Program
A rocky shoreline of a river. The water is calm. Mist and green branches line the river.
The Ecological Services Program works to restore and protect healthy populations of fish, wildlife, and plants and the environments upon which they depend. Using the best available science, we work with federal, state, Tribal, local, and non-profit stakeholders, as well as private land owners, to...
Program
Falls Church,VA
A man is fishing in a boat with three young girls. The kids are excitedly pulling a fish out of the water.
Healthy fisheries and waters are the foundation of America’s outdoor traditions and give us the freedom to fish, boat, and enjoy the benefits of outdoor recreation. The Fish and Aquatic Conservation programs work with states, tribes, and communities to provide a comprehensive approach to freshwater...
Program
Falls Church,VA
Species
A group of juvenile and adult red knot forage along the shoreline.

Length: 25-28 cm. Adults in spring: Above finely mottled with grays, black and light ochre, running into stripes on crown; throat, breast and sides of head cinnamon-brown; dark gray line through eye; abdomen and undertail coverts white; uppertail coverts white, barred with black. Adults in...

FWS Focus
Species
Kingdom
Animalia
Taxonomic Rank
Subspecies
Ecosystem
Coastal
Subject tags
Endangered and/or Threatened species
Fisheries management
FWS and DOI Region(s)
Northeast