Horseshoe Crabs In HK Could Be Wiped Out: Expert

A conservationist is warning that horseshoe crabs in Hong Kong could be virtually wiped out within 10 to 15 years unless quick action is taken to protect their habitats.

Speaking ahead of Endangered Species Day, Kevin Laurie from the International Union for Conservation of Nature said Hong Kong should look to develop eco-tourism attractions to showcase the creatures – which he says are more visible on beaches and coastal wetlands in Hong Kong than in most horseshoe crab habitats across the world.

These creatures are known as living fossils because they have been around for almost half a billion years. Their blood is highly prized by the pharmaceutical industry for its medical applications.

The blue-coloured blood of the crab is used for detection of bacteria in medical equipment. But companies harvest its blood and release them back into the sea.

Laurie told RTHK's Frances Sit that time may be running out for the crabs because of changes to their habitats.

"A lot of our mudflats [coastal wetlands] like at Shui Hau, like at Tung Chung, clam diggers go there and they dig up the entire mudflat looking for clams. In doing that, they end up killing the juveniles, they kill their food, and they make the mudflats uninhabitable for the juveniles," he said.