State representative joins aquarium scientists for horseshoe crab survey in Stratford

the maritime aquarium, norwalk, connecticut

Field researchers and a state lawmaker gathered on the Stratford shoreline this week to evaluate local marine habitats. State Representative Joseph Gresko joined conservation scientists from The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk for an early morning horseshoe crab egg survey at Short Beach on May 19.

The fieldwork was led by Rebha Raviraj, a research scientist in the aquarium’s conservation department. The research team surveyed beach samples to identify the presence and overall condition of horseshoe crab eggs along the coast.

Representative Gresko participated in the hands-on data collection alongside the researchers. Gresko previously led legislative efforts through the General Assembly to pass Connecticut’s 2023 ban on the hand-harvesting of horseshoe crabs and their eggs.

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“Overharvest has put significant pressure on horseshoe crabs for many years, so we’re deeply thankful to Gresko for supporting protections that help create a path toward recovery,” Raviraj said. She noted that the field collaboration helps bridge the gap between policy and hands-on science to better protect spawning habitats.

“Horseshoe crabs are a critical part of our coastal ecosystem, and efforts like this are essential to ensuring their long-term survival in Long Island Sound,” Gresko said following his time with the team.

The beach surveys are part of a broader research initiative launched by the aquarium in 2025 in partnership with the national Horseshoe Crab Recovery Coalition. The project is designed to map critical spawning areas for the Atlantic horseshoe crab, filling a gap in local data regarding how successfully the species is reproducing.

The field research builds upon two recent peer-reviewed studies published by aquarium staff in Scientific Reports and The Biological Bulletin. Those papers highlighted declining populations and the overall ecological role that horseshoe crabs maintain in coastal networks.

Financial backing from Richard and Kimberly Alexander, along with The Ballard Foundation, supported the field surveys and the related studies. The foundation has also contributed to the aquarium’s on-site Horseshoe Crab Culture Lab.

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State representative joins aquarium scientists for horseshoe crab survey in Stratford