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Status of the queen conch fishery in Barbados

1 CERMES University of the West Indies Cave Hill, Barbados. 2 Fisheries Division Ministry of Agriculture Government of Barbados. National Summary Report Hazel A. Oxenford 1 & Stephen Willoughby 2. Status of the queen conch fishery in Barbados.

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Status of the queen conch fishery in Barbados

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  1. 1 CERMES University of the West Indies Cave Hill, Barbados 2 Fisheries Division Ministry of Agriculture Government of Barbados National Summary Report Hazel A. Oxenford1 & Stephen Willoughby2 Status of the queen conch fishery in Barbados CFMC/OSPESCA/WECAFC/CRFM Queen Conch Working Group Meeting Panama City, 23-25 October, 2012

  2. Minor and largely unknown fishery Has a very long history Fishery description Barbados

  3. Conch fishers harvest other species on same trips Majority of conch fishers fish seasonally (in summer months) Trips generally 4-5 hrs Trip frequency unpredictable Fishery description

  4. Fishers SCUBA 16% • Approx. 50 conch fishers (186 in fisher database) • Unknown number of recreational fisher/divers • Majority are free divers • Majority fish from a boat • Small open motorized boats 8% Free dive 76% Boat 64% Swim 24% 12%

  5. > 45 fishing grounds Most 7-12 m deep A few SCUBA grounds 17-33 m deep Greatest activity on SE coast Fishing grounds

  6. Consumption & trade: meat • Harvested for meat & shells • Meat sells for between US$ 4 - 8 / lb • Sold to private customers & restaurants • NO EXPORT • High proportion of immature conch landed (71 % of catch) • Crude conservative estimate of harvest is 3,000 - 6,000 conch a year (approx. 0.5-1.5 mt) Size and maturity of shells harvested

  7. Approx. 20 shell vendors marketing significant numbers of local conch Sell from temporary stalls at fixed locations Conch shells sell for between US$ 1 – 40 Majority are sold to tourists Personal export allowance of 3 shells without permit Consumption & trade: shells

  8. International CITES SPAW protocol UNCLOS CBD Supports FAO Code of Conduct Member of CRFM Conch and Lobster Working Group Policy & Legislation • Local • International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Act (2006) • Export permit required • Personal allowance 3 shells • The Fisheries Act 1993 • Provision for management schemes • Fisheries (Management) Regulations (1998) • None specific to conch • Remains open access • Currently under revision

  9. Fisheries Division has produced conch leaflet CITES trade regulations Encouraging harvesters to leave juveniles Conch stakeholder meeting Information exchange Research validation Draft conch management plan Follows FAO (2007) template Management & Conservation

  10. Abundance survey Summer 2007 / 2008 Circular transects (314 m2) 38 hectares surveyed across 65 sites Conch fisher and research SCUBA divers Data collection & research Shallow shelf survey (3 – 15 m)

  11. 0 conch/ha • 1-5 conch/ha • 6-15 conch/ha • 16-50 conch/ha • 50 conch/ha 15 m depth Data collection & research • Survey results • Patchy distribution • Low density of adults • Size-related habitat preferences Conch density

  12. Data collection & research Population size structure • Survey results • S coast approx. 43,000 conch • W coast approx 8,300 conch • > 79% juveniles S N = 476 conch W juveniles N = 137 conch adults

  13. Data collection & research Aggregation home range • Movement patterns • Observed individuals in an aggregation for 1 yr • Aggregation home range 15 hectares with ‘favourite areas’ • No ‘en masse’ migration or burial of aggregation • Individuals move slightly deeper in cooler months • Individuals move faster and further in warmer months High use areas

  14. Observation Data collection & research • Reproduction • Active April – December • Smallest size at first maturity 3 mm lip thickness (LT) • 50% mature 19.5 mm LT Histological examination Gametogenesis % frequency Ripe Spent Lip thickness (mm)

  15. Issues of concern Low density of conch Rarity of mature adults High proportion of juveniles in catch Breeding aggregations not protected Fisher livelihoods at risk High cost of monitoring & management Final Considerations • Follow-up • Establish a conch fisher association • Restrict access to fishery • Encourage stakeholder engagement in monitoring & management decisions • Strengthen legislation in support of management • Support continued research

  16. Thanks for your attention! Acknowledgements: Government of Barbados University of the West Indies CINVESTAV, Mexico Conch fishers Research divers UWI students: Colvin Taylor, Damien Catlyn, Caroline Bissada Colleagues: Angela Fields, DalilaAldana, LilianeFrenkiel, Henri Valles

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