The purpose of the meeting is to review model revisions to the Reward, Utility, and Harvest
Policy (RUH) functions of the Adaptive Resource Management (ARM) Framework, which is used
to inform bait harvest levels for the Delaware Bay states of New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland,
and Virginia. The AP will consider the updates and provide input to inform the Management
Board’s decisions.

The Delaware Bay region horseshoe crab bait fishery has been managed using the ARM
Framework since 2013, which is designed to balance the commercial harvest of horseshoe
crabs with the abundance of migratory shorebirds. In 2026, the Commission conducted a
stakeholder engagement process to reevaluate several values-based components of the model
through a new structured stakeholder process: the Reward, Utility, and Harvest Policy (RUH)
functions. A full report on the recommendations resulting from this process can be found here:
Delaware Bay Horseshoe Crab Adaptive Resource Management Framework Stakeholder
Engagement Report.

Modeling work has been conducted to revise the RUH functions based on the stakeholder
input. The Board will consider implementing these revisions though an addendum to the
Horseshoe Crab Fishery Management Plan in November 2026.

Please note this is a working meeting of the Horseshoe Crab Advisory Panel. The public is welcome to listen in, but there will be limited opportunity to provide comments during the call/webinar.

Webinar Details

During conference calls/webinars, we ask that the public and other non-participating attendees please mute their lines in order to minimize distractions to the group’s deliberations. For transparency, if you intend to record the meeting, you should let staff know prior to the meeting.

• Webinar Link: https://v.ringcentral.com/join/840175818

You can also dial in using your phone.

• Dial: +1 (650) 419-1505
• Access Code / Meeting ID: 840175818