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In the Turks and Caicos Islands

Queen conch ( Strombus gigas ). In the Turks and Caicos Islands. Status of the Queen Conch fishery. Description of the TCI Industry. Introduction History and Background Management Issues and Concerns Solutions. Introduction. Introduction. From subsistence to commercial fishing

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In the Turks and Caicos Islands

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  1. Queen conch (Strombusgigas) In the Turks and Caicos Islands Status of the Queen Conch fishery

  2. Description of the TCI Industry • Introduction • History and Background • Management • Issues and Concerns • Solutions

  3. Introduction

  4. Introduction • From subsistence to commercial fishing Subsistence $$$$$$ Commercial • Late 1800s began to dry for export to Haiti • Lasted until 1950s - large scale freezers introduced

  5. Fishing Methods • Skiff-type Vessels • Free-diving Only • Co-fishing with Caribbean Spiny Lobster

  6. Managing the Fishery • Legislation, Quotas, Protected Areas and Closed Seasons • Regulations in place since 1941 • Quota system implemented in 1994 based on TAC • Closed seasons July 15th to October 15th • 35 Protected Areas – Almost 1/3 of all TCI area • Size regulations • Minimum shell length of 7 inches • Total weight to exceed 8 oz.

  7. 2005-2012 Yearly Quota 2012 Quota = 800,000

  8. Issues and Concerns Hurricanes Ike and Hannah

  9. Issues and Concerns • Lack of Critical Data • Last Visual Survey 2001 • Local Consumption Analysis • did not include restaurants • dated • Loss of US Export Market – Adding conch to the US Endangered Species List

  10. Issues and Concerns • IUU Fishing • Poaching by foreign nationals • Large “mother ships” with numerous smaller craft • Hooka and scuba • Small percentage of illegal fishing by local fishers • Undersize conch- • 7” shell length • 8 ounces conch meat • Possibly exacerbated by shell trade

  11. Enforcement Issues • Lack of financial resources – gasoline, boat repair • Insufficient personnel due to budget cuts and restructuring • Key personnel departed within past 12 months • PS, director and deputy, • 2 senior scientific officers, • 2 senior conservation officers • 7 conservation officers • Limited enforcement personnel - existing policies/regulations cannot be enforced fully. • Lack of Scientific personnel - significant lapses in data collection and analysis.

  12. Solutions • Urgently-needed studies, funding has been applied for: • Visual Survey • Local Consumption Study • Precautionary principle. TAC is set at approximately 50% of MSY until above studies can be conducted. • Explore and expand to EU market. • TCI radar station – Online and functioning as of August, 2012. • Legislative overhaul – establish maturity rather than size-based restrictions. • Labor restructuring and recruitment.

  13. Thank You

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