Experts develop new regional management and conservation measures for queen conch

By Michelle Nurse Last updated Nov 27, 2014

Some 50 experts and national authorities of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) representing 23 governments and international and national organizations met in Panama City, from 18 to 20 November 2014, under the umbrella of the CFMC/OSPESCA/WECAFC/CRFM working group on queen conch.

The participants developed a new set of regional harmonized measures for the management and conservation of this large mollusc that is declining in certain areas as a result of overfishing.

The second meeting of the working group reviewed a draft queen conch management and conservation plan with 26 potential measures and determined which measures will contribute most to the sustainability of the stocks and livelihoods of those involved in queen conch fisheries.