The Center for Biological Diversity has announced a lawsuit against Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources, alleging the Department of has failed to release data on how thousands of horseshoe crabs are killed, bled, or injured by pharmaceuticals and fishermen.

The annual spawning migration of horseshoe crabs is underway on Delmarva, with the ancient animals returning in droves to the beaches to lay their eggs in the sand.

Multiple organizations including the Center for Biological Diversity are asking the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries to classify the American horseshoe crab as an endangered species.