1. Status of Queen Conch fisheries in The Caribbean Netherlands
Panama October 2012
Pieter van Baren
Queen Conch Working Group Meeting, Panama, October, 2012

2. The Caribbean Netherlands
Recent constitutional change
Netherlands Antilles dissolved
Bonaire, Saba & Sint Eustatius become special municipalities
Queen Conch Working Group Meeting, Panama, October, 2012

3. The Caribbean Netherlands
Queen Conch Working Group Meeting, Panama, October, 2012

4. The Caribbean Netherlands
Queen Conch Working Group Meeting, Panama, October, 2012

5. The Caribbean Netherlands
There are 2 governmental layers (national & island)
The islands are responsible for fisheries in territorial waters
The national government is responsible for fisheries in the EEZ
National legislation on Queen Conch which applies on all 3 islands
Each island has its own legislation
Saba is the only island with specific fishery legislation. Bonaire and St. Eustatius have incorporated their fishery legislation into the marine environment ordinances
No data on landings, abundance or catch effort
Enforcement has always been a problem on these islands
Queen Conch Working Group Meeting, Panama, October, 2012

6. The Caribbean Netherlands
The national legislation concerning Queen Conch
CITES
Fishery legislation BES
For everyone in the fishing zone, and the license holders in the territorial sea, prohibited to fish for:
a. sea snails belonging to the species Strombus gigas of less than cm in length; in the case that sea snails have already been removed from their shell, the minimum weight of the meat should be 225g;
Queen Conch Working Group Meeting, Panama, October, 2012

7. Bonaire Queen Conch legally protected since 1985
Stock currently too low to allow a fishery
Legislation was not enforced until the mid-1990’s
In 2005 the enforcement was stepped up
Since August of 2010 start of a 3 year Conch restoration project
Establishing a baseline of abundance & reproduction
Building relationship with local fishermen
Building awareness
Queen Conch Working Group Meeting, Panama, October, 2012

8. Bonaire Bonaire Marine Environment Ordinance
1. It is prohibited to collect conch without a permit from the Executive Council. The permit will be issued with conditions set by the Marine Environment Commission
2. The maximum number of permits will be set by the Island Resolution Containing General Provisions under advice from the Marine Environment Commission
3. By the Island Resolution Containing General Provisions further conditions may be set on the conch fishery
Current moratorium on permits
Poaching is a big problem
Queen Conch Working Group Meeting, Panama, October, 2012

9. Saba Currently no commercial fishing for Queen Conch
Historically supported large conch fisheries until mid 1990’s
Intensive & unsustainable fishing during mid 1980’s
Decline of the stock on the Saba Bank
Severely overfished by foreign vessels
Coastguard enforcing legislation since 1996
Saba Bank source of larval recruitment for entire region
Moratorium on commercial harvesting of conch
Permits being requested for the Saba Bank
Saba island government indicated the wish to establish the Saba Bank as a conch reserve
Present & future
Queen Conch Working Group Meeting, Panama, October, 2012

10. Saba Marine Environment Ordinance Saba
The collection of sea snails (conch) in the marine park is only allowed in accordance with the following provisions:
(a) It is forbidden to catch conch using scuba or Hookah equipment,
(b) It is forbidden to catch conch smaller than 19 cm (7,5 inches) or conch which do not have a well developed lip,
(c) It is prohibited to take more than 20 conch per person per year,
(d) The collection of conch is only for private use and consumption,
(e) It is prohibited for non-inhabitants which are not Saban to catch conch,
(f) Persons who collect conch must report their catch at once to the manager of the Statia Marine Park.
Queen Conch Working Group Meeting, Panama, October, 2012

11. St. Eustatius Since 10-10-2010 no export of conch
2 fishermen fishing for conch
Fishing with scuba at a depth of 30 to 40 m
open boats (20 & 28ft) with outboard engines
illegal poaching in the marine park
both fishers have had the bends
Present: data monitoring (conch survey)
Future: fishery ordinance with quota system for conch
Queen Conch Working Group Meeting, Panama, October, 2012

12. St. Eustatius Marine Environment Ordinance St. Eustatius
(a) The collection of sea snails (conch) in the marine park is only allowed in accordance with the following provisions:
(b) It is forbidden to catch sea snails using scuba or Hookah equipment,
(c) It is forbidden to catch sea snails smaller than 19 cm (7,5 inches) or sea snails which do not have a well developed lip,
(d) It is prohibited to take more than 20 conch per person per year,
(e) The collection of conch is only for private use and consumption,
(f) Persons who collect conch must report their catch at once to the manager of the Statia Marine Park.
Queen Conch Working Group Meeting, Panama, October, 2012

13. ..Conch... 2012 St Eustatius 2013 Saba Bank lasers camera
Queen Conch Working Group Meeting, Panama, October, 2012

14. Thank you for your attention
Queen Conch Working Group Meeting, Panama, October, 2012