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. Check out the new Speak Up For The Ocean Blue Podcast App: http://www.speakupforblue.com/app. Speak Up For Blue Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakupforblue/ Speak Up For Blue Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpeakUpforBlue Check out the Shows on the Speak Up For Blue Network: Marine Conservation Happy Hour Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2k4ZB3x Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2kkEElk Madame CuriosityApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2xUlSax Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2V38QQ1 ConCiencia Azul: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2k6XPio Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2k4ZMMf Dugongs & Seadragons: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lB9Blv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2lV6THt Environmental Studies & Sciences Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lx86oh Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2lG8LUh Marine Mammal Science: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2k5pTCI Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2k1YyRL Projects For Wildlife Podcast: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2Oc17gy Spotify: https://spoti.fi/37rinWz Ocean Science RadioApple Podcast: https://apple.co/3chJMfA Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3bnkP18