Singapore Intensifies Conservation Efforts for Horseshoe Crabs and Seahorses

Marine research in Singapore is focusing conservation resources on two native species facing significant regional ecological pressure: the coastal horseshoe crab and the seahorse.

The coastal horseshoe crab, an arthropod with a lineage extending over 400 million years, is currently classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN, with local mature populations estimated to be fewer than 1,000 individuals for both coastal and mangrove species in Singapore. Republic Polytechnic (RP) is leading the first captive breeding project for the coastal horseshoe crab, initiated in 2024 under the direction of Dr. Laura Yap. This effort builds upon a successful mangrove horseshoe crab breeding program established in 2015. Currently, an observed pair has produced approximately 1,700 eggs distributed across three tanks, a crucial step for the planned reintroduction of laboratory-reared juveniles into the wild following the project's scheduled conclusion in September. These efforts are vital as habitat loss from land reclamation disrupts the crabs' migratory routes.

Concurrently, scientific attention is directed toward Singapore's seahorse population, which is entirely categorized as Critically Endangered. Save Our Seahorses (SOS) Malaysia, an NGO founded in 2005, intends to establish a collaboration with Singaporean groups by June 2026. Dr. Adam Lim, director of SOS Malaysia, has emphasized that successful conservation hinges on broad societal involvement to counter threats such as the destruction of seagrass meadows. These species fulfill irreplaceable ecological roles: horseshoe crabs help aerate sandy sediments, supporting migratory birds, while seahorses regulate marine food webs by controlling shrimp populations.

The importance of the horseshoe crab extends into global biomedicine, as its blue blood contains Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL), a substance essential for testing pharmaceuticals and medical devices for bacterial endotoxins, a practice supported by the USFDA. Although the blood commands a high market value, synthetic alternatives, such as the rFC test developed over the last two decades, offer a path to reduce the intense pressure on this vulnerable species.

The ongoing collaborative initiative also seeks to appoint a dedicated researcher for seahorse studies within Singapore to strengthen local knowledge. SOS Malaysia's commitment includes monitoring and tagging efforts, evidenced by its Project Hippo Tag expeditions that conducted surveys in August, September, October, and November of 2024.