Base Line Study on the Population Size and Foraging Areas of the Horseshoe Crab of , (A collaboration between Sabah Biodiversity Centre and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu)

INTRODUCTION The horseshoe crab (HSC) is multiple-use marine Pharmacopeia as a source of ameobocyte lysate for arthropod. Since 1970’s, the American horseshoe crab, medical purpose are claimed to be more abundant in Limulus polyphemus has been used to produce Sabah waters. endotoxin kit (LAL) that is currently commercialized around the world. In order to sustain the resources, the information on the Malaysian HSC population size and the behavior should Currently, similar endotoxin kit with equally high quality be gathered, documented and analyzed. and sensitivity has been produced using local species, Tachypleus gigas from Peninsula Malaysia, but facing The objective of this study is to determine the population competition with others that consume HSC as delicacies. size, distribution and the foraging areas or activities of HSC in Sabah. Luckily, T. tridentatus that has been stated in British

METHODOLOGY

a) Public Awareness Survey Questionnaires - Different sets for young and adults.

Figure 1 TAL kit produced by UMT b) Shoreline Survey Around Sabah c) Simple Tagging Location survey around Sabah. Population size and foraging areas will be determined using white button tag – Expects 4 Identified locations: calls from catchers. Kanibungan, Pitas , Pulau Sebatik, Tawau Tanjung Labian,

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Figure 3 Tagged HSC Figure 4 Placement of tag

BENEFIT OF OUTCOME

1. Benefit to local fisherman. 2. Create new business. 3. Sustainable utilization of natural Figure 2 Location of study sites in Sabah resources. 4. Improve the local economy. 5. Put Sabah on the world map for pharmaceutical business.

Tachypleus gigas

Researchers: Assoc. Prof. Dr Noraznawati Ismail, Dr Faridah Mohamad, Dr Amirrudin Ahmad, Azwarfarid Manca, Amirul Asyraf Alia’m, M. Fawwaz Afham M. Sofa