Brevard County officials and local volunteers are tracking horseshoe crab populations along the Space Coast to support medical research. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Ocean Discovery Club have been conducting monthly surveys since January 2024 at Cocoa Beach and Melbourne Beach. Each survey involves tagging and measuring crabs to monitor their numbers and health. Horseshoe crab blood contains a protein used to detect bacterial contamination in medical equipment, a process that has saved lives since the 1950s. "These crabs are living fossils, but their blood is critical to modern medicine," said FWC biologist Sarah Lin. "We need to ensure their populations stay stable." Volunteers collected data on 100 crabs during the most recent survey in April, noting a slight decline in numbers compared to 2023. The Ocean Discovery Club, which has 20 active members, plans to expand monitoring to Patrick Air Force Base by summer. Local scientists warn that habitat loss and climate change threaten the crabs' survival. "Every crab we track helps us understand how to protect them," said club president Mark Torres. The data will inform state policies on coastal development and fishing practices. Residents can report horseshoe crab sightings to the FWC via a smartphone app. The crabs, which have remained largely unchanged for 450 million years, are now a focus of both conservation and medical innovation.