Department of Environment and Maritime Affairs (DEMA), Ministry of Environment and Home Affairs on October 15, 2012 announced the opening of the 2012 Conch Season and introduced a quota for the landing and export of conch. Although not yet a signatory to the Convention of International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), the TCI is required to report all catches and implement a management plan if it intends to continue trading conch. DEMA has been charged with establishing a quota for harvest in accordance with CITES rules.
Director of DEMA Kathleen Wood, said: “TCI has an obligation to report our catch and to establish management plans if we intend to engage with CITES signatory countries such as the US, our primary queen conch export market. The past two conch seasons have resulted in lower-than-anticipated catches. In 2010-2011, the catch was only approximately 25% of previous years’ catch levels at 395,433 pounds. Last season, the situation had only marginally improved with a catch of 500,239 pounds”.
DEMA has therefore taken a precautionary approach to conservation of the Queen Conch stock due to the unavailability of stock studies in the form of a visual survey since 2001. The
Department is currently seeking funding to carry out the annual study which is critical to maintaining the conch fishery. Given the absence of critical data indications are that conch stocks in the TCI are in serious jeopardy.
The Scientific Authority Committee (SAC) and the Fisheries Advisory Committee (FAC) lowered the conch quota for 2012-2013 to 800,000 pounds of landed conch, with 500,000 pounds going to export and 300,000 pounds for local consumption. DEMA estimates that a total quota of 800,000 is equal to the approximate value of conch that was landed last year.
DEMA recognises that this quota will cause some economic strain on fishermen and plant owners, but the measures have been put in place to ensure sustainability and the long-term viability of the industry. The Department is however cognisant of its responsibility to protect the natural resources of TCI including the queen conch fishery.
