The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced today that it will list the Red Knot, a shorebird species experiencing drastic population decline, as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. New Jersey Audubon has long addressed issues related to the decline of the Red Knot and other shorebirds, and believes this is a critical step toward the long-term protection and recovery of the species.
"The Red Knot utilizes the shores of the Delaware Bay extensively during its amazing bi-annual migration between its Arctic breeding grounds and South America. Thus, New Jersey plays a critical role in the survival of this species and we applaud the USFWS's decision to list the bird as threatened," said New Jersey Audubon's President and CEO Eric Stiles.
The Delaware Bayshore is a critical pit stop in the journey of several migratory shorebird species. In the spring, their arrival is timed with the egg laying of horseshoe crabs. Without the ability to fuel up on easy-to-digest fats provided by the horseshoe crab eggs, Red Knots are unable to complete a 9,300-mile one-way trip to their breeding grounds. Horseshoe crab populations have suffered a steep decline since the mid-1990s, following intensification of their harvest. The USFWS notes that a primary factor in the recent decline of the species was reduced food supply in Delaware Bay resulting from horseshoe crab harvest. Horseshoe crabs are harvested for use as fishing bait and for the biomedical industry.
"New Jersey Audubon was instrumental in the implementation of a moratorium on this harvest to reverse the population plummet of the Red Knot and other species, and has been working with partners for nearly a decade advocating for the Red Knot to receive the protections afforded by listing under the Endangered Species Act. The Red Knot is in a battle for its survival and a threatened status reflects the most accurate science," continued Stiles.
In 2012, only 55% of Red Knots stopping in New Jersey reached the necessary departure weights that ensure their survival during migration to the Arctic and successful breeding when they arrive. New Jersey Audubon's Vice President for Research David Mizrahi notes, "These birds likely fail to survive the journey or reproduce, which results in serious population declines-already well documented in Red Knots and several other shorebird species utilizing crab eggs."
This of course affects more than just Red Knots. An economic study prepared for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection in 2000 estimated the economic impact of tourism based on the spring horseshoe crab spawning and shorebird migration spectacle at nearly $13 million per season in New Jersey and the overall shorebird migration viewing on the Delaware Bay generating $34 million annually.
The listing of Red Knots means that the species meets the Endangered Species Act criteria of being likely to become in danger of extinction in the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. New Jersey Audubon supports the threatened designation of the species. This will allow for improved collaborative efforts between the states providing habitat for Red Knots and will enhance actions needed to recover the species in the face of the many threats it faces. Additionally, New Jersey Audubon and partners are conducting a beach restoration project at Stone Harbor Point that will benefit Red Knots during their north and southbound migrations.
About New Jersey Audubon: The New Jersey Audubon Society is a privately supported, not-for profit, statewide membership organization. Founded in 1897, and one of the oldest independent Audubon societies, New Jersey Audubon is working to make New Jersey a better place for people and wildlife. New Jersey Audubon fosters environmental awareness and a conservation ethic among New Jersey's citizens; protects New Jersey's birds, mammals, other animals, and plants, especially endangered and threatened species; and promotes preservation of New Jersey's valuable natural habitats.
http://www.njaudubon.org/
