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Science, Marine and Environment

INTERNET TRADING OF HORSESHOE CRABS IN MALAYSIA

Munira Syahirah Muhammad Sobri , Faridah Mohamad
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1*
Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030
1
Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
*Corresponding author: mfaridah@umt.edu.my

Horseshoe crab is consumed by human and is known as exotic seafood thus causing
the populations of this animal threatened. At this modern age, horseshoe crabs are not
only sold at the local market but also through the internet using a variety of platforms.
The objective of this study is to determine the number of agencies involved in selling
STUDENT RESEARCH DAY 2021 websites, social media platforms, and online shopping platforms. Most traders and STUDENT RESEARCH DAY 2021
horseshoe crab online and their distribution in Malaysia. Information and data of the
online horseshoe crab traders and suppliers were obtained from the internet via

v
suppliers doing business online are from the west coast of Malaysia, especially in
Selangor. Two out of three horseshoe crab species found in Malaysia were sold through
the internet with Tachypleus gigas is more traded than Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda.
No selling of Tachypleus tridentatus was found through the internet search. To conclude,
the higher the demand of this arthropod for human consumption, the higher the number
of traders selling horseshoe crabs online. Thus, online trading is a potential threat to the
local horseshoe crab populations. To prevent from overharvesting, serious action to
conserve this animal must be taken for example, authorities could implement catch quota
to fishermen.

Keyword: Horseshoe crab, trader, supplier, internet, online.

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