Comments on: Video: Blue Blood at $15,000 a Quart

By: aman

aman — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 21:28:35 +0000

I am a shellfisherman and i harvest them each year when they are mating.What most people don’t know is thier are millions and millions and millions of horseshoe crabs.People assume their are not that many of them because they mainly come ashore in late spring at night on a high out going tide for a period of an hour or so to mate.

By: Carol

Carol — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:59:09 +0000

I thought this was one of the most interesting shows I’ve seen in a long time. It’s amazing how everything is interdependent on each other. It definitely made me think about the balance of nature more. What a truly incredible thing!

By: Renee

Renee — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 07:24:27 +0000

I work for the company mentioned in the video. I agree with the comment left by tom. It is not the bleeding process that causes the 10-15% death rate, this is the amount that die because they come in wounded already. We do not bleed any crab that is wounded. If it has a visible injury, bleeding or looks to have been bled recently (a return crab) then it is set aside and not bled. The crabs are checked over several times for injuries… during the washing and separation of males and females, during the racking and prepping process and again right before they are actually bled.

By: Tom (former "Bleeder")

Tom (former "Bleeder") — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 03:54:31 +0000

I’m not sure where the 10-15% mortality rate came from. I worked for years at a company called Associates of Cape Cod as a “Bleed Crew” member, and we rarely had casualties related to the actual bleed process approaching double digits. In fact each days “collection” was counted, sorted, and accounted for when we dropped them back in the water. Those “crabs” that arrived wounded (ingesting fishing hooks and line, impacts from boats, etc…), or had been previously bled (you’d see a scar on membrane) were not bled. An average male would produce about 20-24 ounces (two jars), and an adult female (larger than the males) would go 20-36 ounces 2 to 3 jars). The blood was processed twice to assure that none was wasted. Remember that in the coastal areas that these ancient creatures mate, they compete directly with shell fisherman, and are considered a nuisance. Many coastal towns still have bylaws that provide bounties for their destruction, and many are killed for bait, or just to get rid of them. Although humans get the better end of the deal, the harvesting of limulus blood is not the shop of horrors it’s often made out to be. From a purely economic perspective, the “crabs” are treated as a renewable natural resource, not an expolitable gift from nature. I’ve always been fascinated by these creatures, and my years in the “Bleeding” industry did not diminish my respect for them, or concern for their preservation.

By: mike durliat

mike durliat — Tue, 05 May 2009 02:06:26 +0000

Who are the company’s that are selling the blood?

By: Cherese Cobb

Cherese Cobb — Fri, 01 May 2009 18:18:05 +0000

I don’t believe the horseshoe crab is the world’s ugliest creature. It may be our most beautiful tie to the prehistoric era. While 13%, 86% live, die, those who live have given humanity the greatest gift the ability to live and for society to grow. To say that they bleeding them is a waste, only undermines what they are doing for us.

By: B.J.

B.J. — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 06:57:09 +0000

Is the 15% death rate cited only those that occur during the blood letting? If the industry profiting from their blood is providing the statistics, I would have little faith in their veracity. Does the 15% represent deaths that occur during the blood-letting? If so, who determines how many survive after being thrown back into the water after the procedure? Barbaric. But yes, the fisherman’s tearing them apart for eel bait is even more so…

By: frank d. mayer, jr.

frank d. mayer, jr. — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:25:18 +0000

terrific program; loved it.

By: Rejane Williams

Rejane Williams — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:46:41 +0000

This is a wonderful thing.It will be a great help for us humans.
Yes some die but it sure beats having been sold to be eaten.

By: ruth

ruth — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:09:06 +0000

are the red knots still alive ? me and my mom want to know