Conch poaching in Marine Park

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

When the Mariel Boatlift happened in 1980 we had a fairly stable and large number of Queen Conchs in the Florida Keys. Most "Conchs" feel that these people wiped out the Queen Conchs in the keys.

 

[Charred]

This is sad.

There are how many cruise ships and how many passengers visiting the island each day spending crazy amounts on taxis, fake cigars and other novelties and poaching conch is still happening?

 

[ggunn]

This is sad.

There are how many cruise ships and how many passengers visiting the island each day spending crazy amounts on taxis, fake cigars and other novelties and poaching conch is still happening?

Not as much as it used to, since there are so few of them left.

 

[tmburkejr]

The other day I found a mass amount of conch that were poached in the marine park. I would estimate around 100 conch over a 150 foot area just at the beginning of where Palancar Caves is and in the shallows ( which is closer to Columbia Shallow). There was a ban on conch harvesting that lasted about 10 years and ended in 2019 so now with increased demand in restaurants, we are seeing this in the marine park now. Here is link to my video Conch Poaching Palancar

I saw them as well, picked a few up and noticed they were hit with a hatchet or blade to open.

 

[tmburkejr]

I saw them as well, picked a few up and noticed they were hit with a hatchet or blade to open.

Also saw a large wounded grouper that was laying in the sand. He couldn’t swim away but was alive.Almost like his tail was broken.

 

[JFS]

Also saw a large wounded grouper that was laying in the sand. He couldn’t swim away but was alive.Almost like his tail was broken.

Also saw a large wounded grouper that was laying in the sand. He couldn’t swim away but was alive.Almost like his tail was broken.

Also saw a large wounded grouper that was laying in the sand. He couldn’t swim away but was alive.Almost like his tail was broken.

Probably got hit by spearfisherman.

 

[34109411]

Probably got hit by spearfisherman.

or a shark had a bit.

 

[USdiver1]

Prior to the ban on the international trade in conch, the only commercial conch aquaculture farm was in the Turks and Caicos. Seems to me that aquaculture could be revitalized and keep poaching to a minimum.

On Coz, I've seen the local population go out in search of conch around sunset, no surprises there.

 

[USdiver1]

Also saw a large wounded grouper that was laying in the sand. He couldn’t swim away but was alive.Almost like his tail was broken.

As a reformed [usually] spearo, any shot that doesn't strike the head or break the spine can result in a wounded fish. In this instance, the shot seems to have broken the spine, maybe the spearo dropped his catch due to another animal's interference, or the approach of a Naval patrol.

 

[SwampTiger90]

Also saw a large wounded grouper that was laying in the sand. He couldn’t swim away but was alive.Almost like his tail was broken.

or a shark had a bit.

This was last December in Palancar. Don't think it was a shark bite