QUEEN CONCH caribbeanfmc.com
WHAT’S GOING ON?
February 2024
Listing the queen conch as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), prohibtis its fishing? NO. Existing laws and regulations remain applicable. CURRENT REGULATIONS AND CLOSURES Foto:NOAA Photo Library
FACTS
Queen conch‘s scientific name is Aliger gigas. It is a slow growing and late to mature mollusk (soft-bodied invertebrate) that could live up to 30 years, although most of the individuals live 3-5 years. It is an hervibore that lives in: seagrass, benthic algae, coral, live/hard bottom and sand substrates. Queen conch occurs throughout the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, and around Bermuda in the North Atlantic.
RECENTLY... Queen conch was listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973. This law provides a framework to conserve and protect endangered and threatened species and their ecosystems or critical habitats. SCAN HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
FEDERAL WATERS / ECONOMIC EXCLUSIVE ZONE (EEZ) OF PUERTO RICO (9-200 nautical miles) & ST. THOMAS/ST. JOHN, USVI (3-200 nautical miles) Fishing for queen conch is prohibited all year round. FEDERAL WATERS (EEZ) WEST OF 64°34′ W LONGITUDE IN ST. CROIX, USVI Fishing for queen conch is prohibited all year round. FEDERAL WATERS (EEZ) EAST OF 64°34′ W LONGITUDE IN ST. CROIX, CROIX , USVI Fishing for queen conch is prohibited June 1 through October 31. NOTE: Fishing season ends once 50,000 pounds quota is reached.
PUERTO RICO LOCAL WATERS (0-9 nautical miles) Fishing for queen conch is prohibited August 1 through October 31. ST. THOMAS/ST. JOHN & ST. CROIX, USVI LOCAL WATERS (0-3 nautical miles) Fishing for queen conch is prohibited June 1 through October 31. THREATENED SPECIES VS. ENDANGERED SPECIES THREATENED ENDANGERED Any species that is likely to become Any species which is in endangered within the foreseeable danger of extinction future throughout all or a significant throughout all or a portion of its range, or a species that, significant portion of its at present, is not at risk of extinction, range, or a species that but will probably become an currently, is in risk of endangered species in the future. extinction.
Fact sheet was produced by the CFMC on February 2024, using the information provided by NOAA Fisheries.
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