Top Horseshoe Crab Fishing Countries

Horseshoe crabs, ancient marine arthropods more closely related to spiders than true crabs, are primarily harvested for their blue blood, which contains a unique compound (Limulus Amebocyte Lysate, or LAL) essential for detecting bacterial endotoxins in medical applications. The main horseshoe crab species targeted for harvest are the Atlantic horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) in North America and the tri-spine horseshoe crab (Tachypleus tridentatus) in Asia. The United States, particularly along the Atlantic coast (notably Delaware Bay), is a leading country in horseshoe crab fishing, with regulated harvests for both biomedical and bait purposes. In Asia, countries such as China, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam also harvest horseshoe crabs, mainly for food and traditional medicine, though overfishing and habitat loss have caused significant population declines. The horseshoe crab fishing industry is tightly regulated in some regions due to conservation concerns, as these animals play a crucial ecological role and their populations are vulnerable to overexploitation.

Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.