The Queen Conch Fishery In The Queen Conch Fishery In St. Vincent and the St. Vincent and the

GrenadinesGrenadines

Compiled by K.IsaacsCompiled by K.Isaacs

St. Vincent & the Grenadines is a small St. Vincent & the Grenadines is a small archipelagic state situated in the southern archipelagic state situated in the southern CaribbeanCaribbean

The Queen conch (Strombus gigas) fishing industry is artisanal in nature and is generally fished in the Grenadines along the Grenada bank, which is a shallow platform (about 3000 km²) extending from Bequia to Grenada.

Shallow coastal areas of the platform ( 9 – 12m) consist of predominantly coralline habitat interspersed with patches of seagrass, sand and rock

There are approximately 45 fishers who operate in There are approximately 45 fishers who operate in the conch fisherythe conch fishery

Most fishers display a preference for fishing of Most fishers display a preference for fishing of conch extensively during the months between conch extensively during the months between May – August (coincides with the closed season May – August (coincides with the closed season for lobsters)for lobsters)

Fishers use a flat transom vessel called a “Dory”Fishers use a flat transom vessel called a “Dory”– Open vessels 3 – 6 m (11 -27ft) in length and a Open vessels 3 – 6 m (11 -27ft) in length and a

beam of 0.9 – 2.1m (3 – 7ft)beam of 0.9 – 2.1m (3 – 7ft)– Constructed from wood and marine plywood, which Constructed from wood and marine plywood, which

is then covered in epoxy and/or fibreglassis then covered in epoxy and/or fibreglass

– Powered by one or two outboard engines which can Powered by one or two outboard engines which can range from 14 – 115 hprange from 14 – 115 hp

A typical crew consists of three (3) persons: a A typical crew consists of three (3) persons: a driver/basketman, a floater and a diver. driver/basketman, a floater and a diver. – The diver (using SCUBA) is responsible for collecting the The diver (using SCUBA) is responsible for collecting the

conch and loading them into a “basket” which is attached to conch and loading them into a “basket” which is attached to a rope. a rope.

– The driver/basketman on instruction from the floater would The driver/basketman on instruction from the floater would lift or lower the basket as the operation persists. lift or lower the basket as the operation persists.

– The floater is responsible for relaying information between The floater is responsible for relaying information between the diver and the basketman. the diver and the basketman.

DIVER FLOATER

DRIVER/BASKETMAN

A basket can be a mesh bag, a canvas bag or even mesh A basket can be a mesh bag, a canvas bag or even mesh wire shaped in the form of a basket. wire shaped in the form of a basket.

One basket can hold about 10 - 15 conch One basket can hold about 10 - 15 conch

On average, a fishing trip lasts between three and four On average, a fishing trip lasts between three and four hours in which two or three SCUBA tanks are used. hours in which two or three SCUBA tanks are used.

Fishermen leave port at around 7 a.m. to travel to their Fishermen leave port at around 7 a.m. to travel to their fishing grounds. fishing grounds.

Conch fishers operate at depths ranging from 12 – 40m Conch fishers operate at depths ranging from 12 – 40m and can catch an average of 80 – 100 lbs of conch per tripand can catch an average of 80 – 100 lbs of conch per trip

An average conch being landed is 15 oz or 425 g. An average conch being landed is 15 oz or 425 g.

Over the past twenty years Over the past twenty years St. Vincent and the St. Vincent and the Grenadines have landed an Grenadines have landed an annual average of 30,484 annual average of 30,484 lbs and exported 76% of lbs and exported 76% of this amount (23,203 lbs)this amount (23,203 lbs)

The main countries to The main countries to which the conch is which the conch is exported are North exported are North America, England, America, England, Trinidad, St. Lucia and Trinidad, St. Lucia and Barbados Barbados

YEARYEAR LANDINGS (lbs)LANDINGS (lbs) EXPORTS( lbs)EXPORTS( lbs)

19901990 5,5455,545 10,94510,945

19911991 3,2403,240 8484

19921992 4,2254,225 2121

19931993 62,14062,140 72,47772,477

19941994 33,42233,422 19,58619,586

19951995 17,02417,024 13,53713,537

19961996 27,40427,404 18,16018,160

19971997 18,04018,040

19981998 45,77445,774 1,1001,100

19991999 15,04015,040 5,0105,010

20002000 15,21215,212 10,23910,239

20012001 84,23884,238 78,81678,816

20022002 79,04879,048 75,23875,238

20032003 19,60119,601 14,70714,707

20042004 37,95037,950 30,69830,698

20052005 14,22114,221 8,6468,646

20062006 7,9077,907 5,3545,354

20072007 23,66823,668 19,44119,441

20082008 9,1449,144 1,7901,790

20092009 38,59738,597 25,37325,373

20102010 86,22386,223 62,61062,610

20112011 22,99122,991 13,43313,433

TotalTotal 670,654670,654 487,265487,265

Average weight/YrAverage weight/Yr 30,48430,484 23,20323,203

Conch landings and exportsConch landings and exports

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Fig 1: showing conch landings in pounds for SVG 1990-2011

Fig 2: showing conch exports in pounds for SVG 1990-2011

The conch that is sold on the local market goes to The conch that is sold on the local market goes to restaurants, yachts, hotels and some are consumed by restaurants, yachts, hotels and some are consumed by the local households. the local households.

Locally conch is sold by fishers at EC$5 - 7 per pound Locally conch is sold by fishers at EC$5 - 7 per pound and by vendors at EC$10 per pound and by vendors at EC$10 per pound

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Fig 3: showing comparison between conch landings and exports in pounds for SVG 1990-2011

In accordance to the Convention on International In accordance to the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), conch is Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), conch is listed as an “Appendix 2” specie which means that listed as an “Appendix 2” specie which means that persons wishing to export conch must fill out an persons wishing to export conch must fill out an appropriate form at the Fisheries Division and have it appropriate form at the Fisheries Division and have it signed by the CFOsigned by the CFO

Fisheries Regulations 1987Fisheries Regulations 1987

Part VI Fishery Conservation MeasuresPart VI Fishery Conservation Measures

ConchConch

18. (1) No person shall take, sell or purchase or have in 18. (1) No person shall take, sell or purchase or have in his possession any immature conchhis possession any immature conch

(2) The Minister may by notice published in the (2) The Minister may by notice published in the Gazette declare any period as closed season for Gazette declare any period as closed season for conchconch

(3) No person shall fish for conch during the closed (3) No person shall fish for conch during the closed season of conchseason of conch

(4) In this regulation immature conch means:(4) In this regulation immature conch means:

(a) a conch shell of which is smaller than 7 inches /18 cm in (a) a conch shell of which is smaller than 7 inches /18 cm in lengthlength

(b) a conch shell which does not have a “flared lip”(b) a conch shell which does not have a “flared lip”

(c) a conch with a total meat weight of less than 8 oz / 225 g (c) a conch with a total meat weight of less than 8 oz / 225 g after removal of the digestive glandafter removal of the digestive gland

7 inches

Some fishers have reported that there are less conch Some fishers have reported that there are less conch in the waters of the Grenada bank and in some in the waters of the Grenada bank and in some instances, that they have had to fish in deeper waters. instances, that they have had to fish in deeper waters.

The Fisheries Division has proposed a capital project The Fisheries Division has proposed a capital project in which an analysis would be taken of the country’s in which an analysis would be taken of the country’s Queen Conch fishery. Queen Conch fishery.

Biological data such as size, weight and maturity will Biological data such as size, weight and maturity will be gathered on the conch population, as well as be gathered on the conch population, as well as abundance and distribution patterns of the conch. abundance and distribution patterns of the conch.

Nursery and spawning grounds are expected to be Nursery and spawning grounds are expected to be identified as well as socio-economic information identified as well as socio-economic information including fishing effort, consumption patterns, as well including fishing effort, consumption patterns, as well as local and export market distribution patterns. as local and export market distribution patterns.

From this project, invaluable information will be From this project, invaluable information will be obtained to determine the structure of the stock obtained to determine the structure of the stock on Queen conch in St. Vincent and the on Queen conch in St. Vincent and the Grenadines as well as provide input for Grenadines as well as provide input for sustainable management of the resource.sustainable management of the resource.

Questions?Questions?