SUFB 1016: Conservation Is About The Long Game

A race for the cure to end a global pandemic could affect populations of horseshoe crabs. How do horseshoe crabs tie into finding a vaccine you ask? Well, it's in their blood. The blue blood act as an indicator of the presence of contaminants during vaccine trials. The crab's blood will coagulate if there are enough contaminants. The problem is that in order to use the blood, you have to drain the crabs of more than half of their blood. the process kills thousands during mass crab blood draws. 

The good news is that there is an alternative; however, the bad news is that the US pharmaceutical agency is not willing to use it. Therefore, they continue to unsustainably harvest horseshoe crab blood. 

The USP is targeting the short game, but conservation is a long game. 

Link to Article: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/race-coronavirus-vaccine-runs-horseshoe-crab-blood-180975048/

Do you think we should continue to harvest blood directly from horseshoe crabs, or should we use the alternative, which has been proven to work? Share your thoughts in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

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