FAU Institutional Repository
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FAU Institutional Repository
FAU Institutional Repository http://purl.fcla.edu/fau/fauir This paper was submitted by the faculty of FAU’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. Notice: © 2003 Programa Iberoamericano de Ciencia y Tecnología para el Desarrollo. This manuscript is an author version with the final publication available and may be cited as: Shawl, A., Davis, M., Glazer, R. A., Main, K., Leber, K., & Delgado, G. A. (2003). Conch Heritage Network: conserving queen conch for future generations. In D. A. Aranda (Ed.), El Caracol Strombus gigas: conocimiento integral para su manejo sustentable en el Caribe: special session at the 55th annual meeting Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (pp. 163-165). Yucatán: Programa Iberoamericano de Ciencia y Tecnología para el Desarrollo. El Caracol Strombus gigas: Conocimiento Integral para su Manejo Sustentable en el Caribe , Special Session at the 55th mmual meeting Gulf ami Caribbean Fisheries Institute Xcl -Ha, Quintana Roo, Mexico Noviembre, 2002 Dalila Aldana Aranda Editora Publicado por Programa Iberoamericano de Ciencia y Tecnologia para el DesaiTollo Noviembre, 2003 Aldana-Aranda, D. (cd.). 2003. El Caracol Strombus gigas: Conocimicnto Integral para su Manejo Sustcntable en el Caribe. CONCH HERITAGE NETWORI(: CONSERVING QUEEN CONCH FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AMBER SHAWL 1 MEGAN DAVIS 1 ROBERT A. GLAZER z KEVAN MAIN 3 KENNETH LEBER 3 GABRIEL A. DELGADO 2 1 Conch Heritage Network Headquarters. Harbor Branch Oceanographic 1nstilution. Aquaculture Division. 5600 US 1 North, Ft. Pierce, FL 34946 USA 2 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Marine Research 1mtitute, 2 796 Overseas Highway. Ste. 119, Marathon, FL 33050 USA 3 Mote Marine LaboraiOIJ', 1600 Ken Thompson Par/..."WGJ', Sarasota, FL 34236 USA RESUAfEN El cobo, Strombus gigas, es una pesqueria importante en el Caribe. Sin embargo, las poblaciones del coho han estado disminuyendo debido a Ia sobrepesca, Ia degradaci6n de su habitat, y el desarrollo costero. Un modo de restaurar y conservar las poblaciones del cabo es a traves de _Ia educacion de Ia poblaci6n. La red "El Conch Heritage Network" fue establecida en· 2001 para ayudar las comunidades de Ia Florida y el Caribe a conservar y restaurar sus poblaciones de Cobo. El Conch Heritage Network es una voz para el legado del Cobo en el Caribe. ABSTRACT The Queen conch, Strombus gigas, is an important economical and subsistence fisheries species in the Caribbean region. However, populations are declining due to overfishing, habitat degradation, and coastal development. One way to help restore and conserve Queen conch populations is through public outreach and education. The Conch Heritage Network was established in 200 I, to work with the communities of South Florida and the Caribbean to help conserve and restore depleted queen conch populations. The Conch Heritage Network is a successful outreach program, and a voice for the legacy of the Queen conch. KEY WORDS: education, Strombus gigas, Queen conch INTRODUCTION For centuries, Queen conch (Strombus gigas) has been a valuable species throughout Florida and the Caribbean region. Countless generations have used this large marine gastropod for a food resource, tribal tool, sounding hom, building material, and decorative ornament. Over the years, queen conch evolved from its traditional role as a subsistence fishery to becoming the second most valuable demersal fisheries resource in the Caribbean, next to spiny lobsters (Appeldoom, 1994). Unfortunately, this demand 163 has severely depleted many wild Queen conch populations in the region. As a response to overharvesting, Florida closed its commercial conch fishery in I 976 and its recreational fishery in 1986, and many Caribbe_an countries have established regulations such as quotas and closed seasons. In I 992, queen conch was added to Appendix 11 on the Convention on the Intemational Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) to ensure that the species is harvested at sustainable levels. Marine Protected Areas in Florida and the Caribbean, especially in the 164 Shawl et ttl. Bahamas, have provided a refuge for spawning populations of queen conch. As a method to· offset fishing pressure, fanning Queen conch for both food and stock enhancement has been advancing rapidly since the 1970's (Davis 2000). Scientists at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution (Harbor Branch) in Ft. Pierce, Florida are leaders in the development of culture techniques for Queen conch, and started a small hatchery in 2000 (Shawl et al. 2003). In 2002, in collaboration with Harbor Branch, Mote Marine Laboratory (Mote) established conch research laboratories at both their Sarasota and Key West, Florida facilities. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has been actively involved with Queen conch fisheries and stock enhancement for over 15 years. In 1990, they established a pilot-scale hatchery and produced juvenile conch to cond.uct reseeding experiments. In 2000, they redirected their efforts towards transplanting adult conch to increase the reproductive output of the spawning stock. Additionally, they have been monitoring Queen conch stock recovery in the Florida Keys, examining reproductive failure in nearshore conch, and investigating recruitment as it applies to stock restoration. In September 2001, scientists from Harbor Branch, Mote, and FWC formed the Conch Heritage Network. These scientists have years of experience in conch fishery ecology, restoration and management practices, and aquaculture. The Conch Heritage Network is dedicated to working with the communities of South Florida and the Caribbean to raise awareness of the historical, socioeconomic, and environmental importance of Queen conch. It is only through these types of efforts that the conservation and restoration of Queen conch can be achieved. EDUCATION The Conch Heritage Network has strong educational and outreach mttlatives. The Network's most significant accomplishments to date include a series of conservation education tools that are available to the public, students, teachers, and researchers. The "Conch in the Classroom" activity is a favorite hands-on program for students and teachers visiting Harbor Branch. With assistance from the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund, the organization has also developed and utilized infonnational brochures, posters, displays, lectures, a conch video, and a website life cycle (www.savetheconch.org). Classroom teaching modules are currently being developed for K-12 students, they include: history and socioeconomics, geography, habitat and biology, fisheries management, marine reserves, and aquaculture. Educators and the public from all over Florida tour the Harbor Branch, Mote, and FWC conch facilities. Harbor Branch scientists also trail} international scientists in the hatchery techniques necessary for them to establish conch grow-out and rehabilitation programs in their own country. RESEARCH Scientists who participate in the Conch .Heritage Network are involved m several aspects of Queen conch fisheries and rulture research. At Harbor Branch during the summer of 2000, Queen conch laid egg masses in a recirculating breeding tank system (Shawl et al. 2003). This important breakthrough may alleviate the need to .collect egg masses from wild populations. In April 2002, with the assistance of FWC scientists and partial funding from Project AWARE, Harbor Branch expanded their Queen conch breeding program. The Harbor Branch experiments are focusing on production of egg masses in captivity, increasing the efficiency of culture systems, and together with Mote, enhancing the viability of seed stock produced in the hatchery. The FWC, located in Marathon in the Florida Keys, is a leader in determining criteria that limit or enhance the survival of conch hatcheryreared outplants. In addition to the ongoing spawning stock monitoring program, the FWC together with the University of Florida and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Center for Coastal Ocean Conserving Queen conch for future generations Science, is beginning a project to examine reproductive failure in a subset of the Florida Keys adult Queen conch stock. Furthermore, FWC is examining the origins of larvae recruiting to Florida because any restoration effort must address sources of recruits. RESTORATION To date there have been no large-scale reseeding efforts in Florida or the Caribbean. However, scientists at FWC and the Caribbean Marine Research Center have contributed significant guidelines based on Queen conch restoration research in the Florida Keys and the Bahamas (Stoner and Davis, 1994; Stoner and Glazer, 1998; Glazer, 2001). The scientist·. at FWC and Mote are assisting other organizations with management practices for stock enhancement in the Florida Keys (Glazer, 2001; Leber, 2002). Scientists at ·F)VC together with The Nature Conservancy and funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are also implementing a transplantation program to increase the Florida Queen conch spawning stock. Restoring overfished Queen conch populations will occur only with the aid of fisheries management, conservation education, aquaculture; and stock enhancement. 165 CONSERVATION The Conch Heritage Network raises awareness of the historical, socio-economic, and environmental value of Queen conch as well as the importance of good management practices by conducting lectures and distributing brochures and posters to the general public, researchers, and educators. It is with these types of conservation efforts that the continuity of the conch legacy can be ensured for future generations. FUTURE The Conch Heritage Network IS well positioned to achieve its goals in the communities of Florida and the wider Caribbean region. This long-term program has started in Florida and will mcrease its network partnerships in the Caribbean and Latin America. Future projects ·will include conference workshops, updates of educational modules posted on the website, and juvenile conch culture and stocking studies. Regular executive and general meetings allow the Conch Heritage Network to continue to formulate directions for future research and outreach efforts. ACKNOWLEDGMENT This is Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Inc. contribution Ill 523. LITERATURE CITED Appeldoom, R.S. 1994. Queen conch management and research: status, needs, and priorities. pp. 301-3 I 9 In: R.S. Appeldoom and B. Rodriquez (eds.). Queen Conch Biology, Fisheries, and Mariculture. Fundacion Cientifica Los Rogues, Caracas. Davis, M. 2000. Queen conch (Strombus gigas) culture techniques for research, stock enhancement and growout markets. pp. 127-159 In: M. Fingemam and R. Nagabhushanam (eds.). Marine Biotechnology. Science Publishers, Inc. USA. Glazer, R.A. [200 ll Queen conch stock restoration. Report to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 7 pp. Leber, K.M. 2002. Advances in marine stock enhancement: Shifting emphasis to theory and accountability. pp. 79-90 In: Stickney, R. R. and J. P. McVey (eds.). Responsible Marine Aquaculture. CAB! Publishing, New York, NY. Shawl, A.L., M. Davis, and J. Corsaut. 2003. Captive breeding for the gastropod conch (Strombus spp.). Proc.Gulf Fish. Ins/. 54:427-436. Stoner, A. W. and M. Davis. 1994. Experimental outplanting of juvenile Queen conch, Strom bus gigas: comparison of wild and hatchery-reared stocks. Fisheries Bulletin. 92:390-411. Stoner, A.W. and R.A. Glazer. 1998. Variation in natural mortality: implications for Queen conch stock enhancement. Bulletin of Marine Science. 62:427-442