Our MISSION is to grow the queen conch for the sake of the species, ecosystem, and people who depend on the fisheries.
Our VISION is for there to be a queen conch farm in every Caribbean Nation.
Join the community movement to help restore the queen conch.
The Queen Conch Lab is a research and education program at Florida Atlantic University Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. It is part of the Aquaculture & Stock Enhancement Program and the Queen Conch Lab is
led by Megan Davis, Ph.D., Harbor Branch Research Professor.
"This website was created with you in mind. Take your time to explore and learn all you can from my 40-years of working closely with colleagues and students on the majestic queen conch. Be sure to connect with us if you would like to join the effort!"
Involving community members in our projects is important to us because it connects locals with their marine environment and often times provides them with alternate sources of income.
Our experiences with queen conch in an aquaculture setting provides communities with options for conserving and restoring the species for future generations.
We believe that with the sharing of knowledge and technical know how will empower communities with the skills needed to grow conch for food and restoration.
An Egg Farm can be used for conservation or for the hatchery to increase number of egg masses laid.
The most intensive stage for growing conch from eggs to larvae to tiny juveniles.
Rearing juveniles for up to 1 year old stage, in a controlled environment with sand.
A queen conch is an ocean snail known as a gastropod. It is one of the largest snails in the ocean!
Conch are important for many reasons! They are the second largest fisheries in the Caribbean/The Bahamas and are herbivores (vegetarians) that graze on microscopic algae on sand and seagrass blades.
According to studies that have lasted many years, conch populations are declining from overfishing and habitat changes across the Caribbean, The Bahamas and Florida.
Conch can live for a very long time! Depending on the conch's habitat, the conch can live for 40+ years!
Conch are sexually mature at 4-5 years old when they have a flared lip that is 15 mm or greater in thickness. Each country has specific conch fisheries management rules that need to be followed.