STATUS OF QUEEN CONCH FISHERY IN ST LUCIA

Prepared by: Patricia Hubert-Medar and Sarita Williams PeterPresenter: Patricia Hubert-Medar

Panama CityOctober 23-25

Description of the national Queen Conch fishing industry

Policy and Legislation Development Activities Fisheries management and conservation activities Consumption and Trade Annual catch statistics research stock assessment Final Considerations

single species nearshore fisheries • max. 5 miles; avg. 2.22 miles from shore• 11 – 43 m• SCUBA gear - three dives per trip - 100 – 500

conch landed /trip (2003)• fibreglass pirogues, 7.02 – 8.45 m, 115 – 250 hp

majority landed whole (live) and then sold immediately or retained for fish fry.

Fisheries Regulations since 1994:

Current legislation provides protection for:• Immature conch

Flared lip Meat weight (280g)

Revised Legislation (not in effect)• Includes Permit system

Stock Assessment – CRFM Sci Meeting

Density survey – EU SFA 2003 Socio-economic survey – EU SFA 2003

• Co-management with fishers Training of conch divers in SCUBA Hyperbaric chamber committee

Two management objectives have been defined for this resource:• rebuilding the near shore stocks and• ensuring sustainable use of this resource

major market for meat • local market serving both the tourism sector and

nationals Local markets include: Saint Lucia Fish

Marketing Co-operation, hotels, restaurants, seafood festival vendors and the general public

Growing demand for conch at seafood festivals stimulate economic development in these communities.

Sale of conch shells, is another area for economic benefits.

Data collection include: gathering of data on catch, effort etc.

Conch landings are captured for Gros Islet in the north, where the majority of conch is landed; Laborie; Vieux Fort and Dennery

Over the past 12 years conch landings have been on a steady decline. CPUE also confirms.

CRFM Sci meeting assessment • Rec. initial 30 tonnes per year harvest quota

Current density indicates average of 242.87 individuals per hectare

2008 socio-economic study – majority of fishers reported no change.

Need for conch fishers to be engaged to foster stewardship .

The following summarises the information on issues affecting the conch fishery:

 • Sustained Data Collection collaboratively with

fishers.  • Regional integration of information on stocks needs

to inform management decisions.

• Depths at which the conch are now found is becoming an even greater limiting factor on the number of dives that are being conducted.

 • Fisheries management recommendations should be

done collaboratively with fishers to reduce enforcement pressures.