Eating horseshoe crabs is illegal and may result in jail time. The horseshoe crab, also known as the Chinese horseshoe crab, is a second-level protected animal in China.

According to the provisions of the "Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China", illegal hunting and killing of precious and endangered wild animals under key national protection, or Anyone who illegally purchases, transports, or sells precious and endangered wild animals and their products under national key protection will be punished by law.