Abstract

The queen conch Aliger gigas, a significant fishery species in the Caribbean, is integral in the seagrass ecosystem and has a high cultural and economic value within the island communities. There is great interest to aquaculture the conch to help with restoration and sustainable seafood and to grow sea vegetables for culinary dishes and coastal restoration. For an aquaculture operation to be successful there are several key factors to be considered. In 2019, the Naguabo Aquaculture Center in Puerto Rico was launched, and this facility is highlighted to illustrate the importance of these key factors (Davis and Espinoza 2020, Davis et al. 2021).