Alternatives to Horseshoe Crab (Limulus polyphemus) as Bait for the Channeled Whelk (Busycotypus canaliculatus) Trap Fishery

The channeled whelk fishery (Busycotypus canaliculatus) of the eastern United States currently relies on horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) for bait; however, horseshoe crab mortalities from their use as bait, as well as other industrial uses, have raised conservation and management concerns. A prior study has demonstrated that some fishery byproducts can be as attractive as horseshoe crabs to whelk in the laboratory (Munley et al. 2024). The goal of the current study was to test additional alternative molluscan bait ingredients. First, laboratory trials were conducted to measure whelk interactions with a bait bag that contained different alternative baits. These experiments demonstrated that propeller clams (Cyrtodaria siliqua) were as attractive as horseshoe crabs, and more attractive than a sea scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) visceral mix, or a sea scallop viscera and green crab (Carcinus maenas) mixture. The top performing alternative baits were then tested in the field with a commercial fisher off Cape Cod, MA. Overall, propeller clams were as effective as horseshoe crabs as bait, however, despite other molluscan byproducts underperforming, they still may be suitable bait components if available and cost-effective. Taken together, these data indicate that there are promising alternatives to horseshoe crabs as bait for the whelk fishery. Nonetheless, feedback from the greater fishing industry will be necessary to determine whether propeller clams, or another molluscan byproduct, are viable for use in commercial fishing operations.