Abstract

With the support of the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission, the Caribbean Fisheries Management Council, The CITES Secretariat, the Caribbean Fisheries Management Council and the Central American Fisheries and Aquaculture Organization, the Regional Queen Conch Fishery Management and Conservation Plan has been produced for further revision and formal adoption. The Plan presents a set of 14 management measures that can be applied at the regional or sub-regional level for the sustainability of queen conch populations, the maintenance of a healthy fishery and the sustenance of fishers and fishers’ communities. These measures were supported by experts and managers members of the WECAFC/CFMC/OSPESCA/CRFM Working Group. Concerns about the status of this Caribbean resource and the need to implement a common regional management began nearly 20 years ago, but unfortunately, until now, tangible results of regional and sub-regional initiatives have been scarce due to the lack of cooperation and political support across the region. Given the ecosystem-based management approach recommended in this regional plan, it is expected that partnership and collaboration throughout the Wider Caribbean region would be enhance and lead to improvements in the long-term governance of queen conch fisheries. Considering that queen conch is already a relatively highly regulated fishery, the harmonized regional measures presented in this document will require minor adjustment only to achieve the broader objectives envisioned in the regional plan. This work is being made to build regional support among scientists, fisherfolk, and educators, all part of the GCFI community.

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