The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) held a session at Naguabo Aquaculture Center, Puerto Rico, to gain firsthand insight into the architecture and operations of a queen conch hatchery and nursery. Chief fisheries officers from Grenada, Saint Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines attended. These islands have some of the most vibrant and profitable conch industries in the OECS.
Queen conch is one of the most valuable species in the Caribbean. However, the species continuously faces overfishing or being fished too young, long before the queen conch’s typical reproductive years, affecting their ability to replenish populations. Conch hatcheries and nurseries, such as ones planned for Union Island, SVG, and St. Lucia, offer secure facilities for young conchs before being released back into the ocean, and they provide suitable conditions for reproduction.
The chief fisheries officers observed breeding and rearing practices used to support the conch population, and the tanks/pens where the conchs are reared during their growth. They discussed the environmental conditions critical for conch growth/development and will explore the feasibility of conch hatcheries and nurseries in each member state.
