Along the sun-kissed beach of Baleswar, where the tides whisper stories of the past, a remarkable conservation story has quietly taken shape. The Indo-Pacific Horseshoe Crab has found an unlikely ally in the coastal fishing communities of Odisha.

Horseshoe crabs have survived for over 450 million years and are among the most ancient living creatures. However, these “living fossils” have been facing enormous threats in the form of habitat destruction, unsustainable harvesting of marine resources and general lack of awareness around their ecological roles. But a tide of change is slowly taking place with the Horseshoe Crab Conservation Programme, led by Bikash Saathi (a regional NGO) and supported by Segré Rapid Action Fund from the Wildlife Trust of India and Fondation Segré. These initiatives have sparked not only rescue operations but also a transformation in how the community perceives both the creature and its role in its survival.

Horseshoe crabs stuck in ghost nets along the beaches of Balasore, Odisha | Photograph by Dr. Biswajeet Panda

Protecting horseshoe crabs in Balasore, Odisha

From the outset, the project is community-led – designed, owned, and executed by the people who depend on the sea. The fishers themselves, often perceived as passive resource users involved only in extraction of ocean’s resources, are now playing an active role as the first responders in this new conservation chapter. Equipped with knowledge and guided by a deeper sense of purpose, they patrol the beaches during sensitive breeding seasons, rescuing horseshoe crabs that are found entangled in ghost nets or marooned in shallow pools.

The results have been astonishing. Between April and May this year, over 2270 ghost nets and more than 350 kg of single-use plastic were cleared from breeding hotspots. With this, the beach wasn’t just cleaner, it became a sanctuary. Most remarkably, 211 horseshoe crabs were successfully rescued and released back into the sea. Every life saved was a small victory for the species and a huge stride in community empowerment”, exclaims Shri Prabir Kumar Sahu, Sarpanch of Dublagadi village in Balasore.

Beyond rescue, this project is helping inculcate environmental values into the daily fabric of the local community. Village elders, women and youth – all are keenly participating in the awareness drives and beach clean-ups, and also helping us spread the word. Remarkably, the local women, who are often at the forefront of the coastal realms, are equally taking up the mantle to protect the horseshoe crabs and initiating dialogues on marine conservation. For many, this has been their first introduction to the concept of conserving this wonderful marine arthropod. For others, it has rekindled a dormant connection with the sea as a living entity to be protected and not just harvested.

Horshoe Crab in Balasore | Photograph by Dr. Biswajeet Panda

The custodians of the planet’s legacy

“During our childhood, we used to find horseshoe crabs everywhere. Now, we rarely see them. Ghost nets and lack of awareness are killing them silently,” says Jhili Sahu, a fisherwoman from Dublagadi, Baleswar.

The project’s ripple effects are extending to their livelihoods as well. Our sensitization efforts are also sparking conversations about economic alternatives, eco-tourism, sustainable fishing practices, and community-based resource management. The fishers now envision a future where economic stability and ecological balance are not opposing forces, but partners in progress.

This is more than a story of conservation, it is a story of transformation. It shows what is possible when local communities decide to act, when tradition meets science and when responsibility is embraced by those closest to the land and sea. The humble fishing communities of Baleswar have not only become protectors of a species at risk, they have become custodians of a legacy, guarding a lineage that predates dinosaurs.

As they continue their journey, one thing is clear: the future of the horseshoe crab is no longer uncertain in Balasore. It rests in safe hands- hands, calloused by years of toil at sea, now guided by wisdom, pride and an unwavering commitment to conservation.

Working through collaborations with grassroots organisations, government agencies and community stakeholders, WTI’s Rapid Action Project Grant helps overcome spatial and temporal limitations to provide help where and when it is needed the most.

Dr. Biswajeet Panda is the Founder of Bikash Saathi NGO and a member of the IUCN SSC Horseshoe Crab Specialist Group