Abstract

From 1999 the Fisheries Research Center of Cuba is working on a Project aim to evaluate fue population abundance and fishery stock assessment on Queen Conch Strombus gigas in the main fishing areas of the Cuban shelf. Investigations were developed according to know present status of the resource in our waters. We are working under CITES regulations on Conch for exploitation and trading. The objective is to evaluatethe abundance and population composition Guveniles, adults and seniles). There are available the results of abundance indexes and monitoring for the last 3 years for the whole country fisheries, as we can presen to Until now, results are given sizes, weight, conversions, ages, landings, and sex ratios. Fishing operation is always by free diving. Aqualungs and compressors are not allowed. At present, year 2002, we started to do some biological studies in order to determine the closing season for our populations and the possibilities for conch mariculture. All Cuban areas were fished untill997, when conch exploitationwas dosed by CITES rules. Densities and population structure are showing that it is possible to propose year quotas under licences up to 1250 metric tons (living weight) as reported in Cuba, that means 88 tons of 100% clean meat (foot weight). Furthermore, the fishery management was established for a sustainable use of Strombus gigas in the Cuban shelf: according to its protection, fue environmental conditions and the biodiversity of the coastal areas. CITES claims for that, and the environmental authorities.

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