Red knot populations improve slightly along Delaware Bay, but remain fraction of historic levels

Red knot populations in Delaware Bay have shown slight improvement, with the highest single-day count since 2019, but remain significantly below historic levels. Overharvesting of horseshoe crabs, used for bait and biomedical purposes, has contributed to a 75% decline in red knot numbers since the 1980s. Delaware and New Jersey have implemented partial protections for horseshoe crabs, but recovery remains limited.