Abstract

The Conch Heritage Network was established in September 2001 with the goal of working with the communities of South Florida and the Caribbean to help preserve and restore depleted queen conch, Strombus gigas, populations. It is comprised of scientists from Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution (Harbor Branch), Mote Marine Laboratory (MML), and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC).\Restoring overfished queen conch populations will occur with the aid of fisheries management, conservation education, aquaculture, and stock enhancement. Harbor Branch researchers established the first captive-breeding program for queen conch with funding assistance from Project AWARE. Eggs from captive and wild adults are being cultured for juvenile growth andrestocking studies. With funds from the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund, Harbor Branch and MML are determining the optimal culture conditions,suchas density and substrate, to improve the shell strength and survival of conch released in the field. The FFWCC has examined variables that limit the survival of batchery-reared outplants in order to establish queen conch stocking criteria for the Florida Keys. Scientists at FFWCC together with The Nature Conservancy and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are also implementing a transplant program toincrease the Florida queen conch spawning stock. They are also examining the origins of larvae recruiting to Florida since any restoration effort must address sources of recruits. The Conch Heritage Network raises awareness of the historical, socio-economic, and environmental value of queen conch as well as the importance of best management practices by conducting lectures and distributing brochures and posters as conservation-education outreach tools. The "Conch in the Classroom" field activity is a favorite bands-on program for students and teachers visiting Harbor Branch's conch batchery and nursery. An informative website (www.savetheconch.om) documents research, student activities, general life history, and culture information on conch.\With a focus on conservation, research, education, and restoration, the Conch Heritage Network is a successful research and outreach program, and a voice for the legacy of the queen conch.

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