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Silver Science: Horseshoe Crabs: The Cape’s First ‘Wash-a-Shores’

Once a ‘pest’ now an icon, the importance of Cape Cod’s horseshoe crabs is being revealed. Maureen Ward, the Museum’s Horseshoe Crab Aquaculture and Nursery program lead, will take the audience through how the 450-million-year-old ‘living fossil’ has become an invaluable resource for species both below and above the water.

“There’s a surprising number of coastal and marine animals living along our shorelines, in our water habitats, and flying overhead that have come to depend on horseshoe crabs as a food resource,” Maureen said. “We’ll also be talking about how they enrich the seafloor and expand biodiversity.”

Following the presentation there will be a Q&A session with opportunities to view live juvenile horseshoe crabs and receive updates on MA legislation proposing to ban the taking of the species for bait and MA Division of Marine Fisheries proposals to change quotas for bait and biomedical harvest.

2026 marks the 10th anniversary of the Museum’s Horseshoe Carb Aquaculture and Nursery Education Program, which promotes stewardship, advocacy and education. Our International Horseshoe Crab Day Celebration is one of the museum’s most popular annual events with hundreds of people coming for special exhibits every June 19th.

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