Iconic Conch is Closer to Extinction Than Ever Before

Hailey Diehl, Sophomore

Conchs are very slow-moving creatures. That means when they mate it can be very difficult. It takes over 50 conchs spawning at once for the chance of a successful mating to occur.

The conch is a vital part of the Bahamas. Conchs have an iconic shell that is recognized by many, and they also have a well-loved meat that is found in many common foods. With 2% of the population working as Bahamian fishers, if the conch fishery collapses, over 9,000 people would lose their jobs. If the conch population keeps drastically dropping, a five-year ban on conch fishing could occur. That would be devastating to the economy, where millions of dollars and over 400 metric tonnes of conch were exported.

In 2011, scientists started become worried about the conch population. The conch is an important food source for nurse sharks and turtles. On January 13, the Bahamas’ Department of Marine Resources told the public they would be making official recommendations to better protect the conch. These included ending exports and increasing regulatory staff. Hopefully, the prime minister will approve these ideas.

Theiss, Mike. “The Bahamas' Iconic Conch Could Soon Disappear.” National Geographic, National Geographic, 16 Jan. 2019, www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/01/conch-decline-overfishing-the-bahamas/.