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?