From 2009-2015, Community Conch worked with Bahamian conservation organizations and the Department of Marine Resources to collect the data needed to better manage the conch fishery of The Bahamas. With the support of the Bahamas Department of Marine Resources, the Bahamas National Trust, the Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation, and other NGOs, we conducted annual surveys of conch stocks on important fishing grounds.
Our first conch stock assessment was completed in the summer of 2009 in the Berry Islands. This outer island group was selected because it is now the closest viable fishery to the population center of Nassau and because baseline data was needed to support a new marine reserve in the area. Since then, we have completed surveys in the traditional and commercial fishing grounds of Andros Island, the Exuma Cays, the Bight of Abaco, the Jumento Cays/Ragged Island chain, the Little Bahama Bank and the Eastern Sand Bores. IN 2015, we partnered with the Shedd Aquarium and. Since that time Dr. Andrew Kough and scientists on the Coral Reef II have replicated some of our studies, conducted studies in new areas and research. Using Dr. Stoner surveys from the early 1990s, Community Conch’s surveys from 2009-2015 and ThseShedd Aquariums more recent studies, we have data for locations spanning a 20 year period.
In addition to conducting research and surveys, we have worked collaboratively with environmental educators in The Bahamas to design and implement outreach programs that inform, educate, and build community support for more sustainable conch harvesting methods. Our major outreach effort was My Science, My Conch organized by Catherine Booker.
More recently, Community Conch has been involved in influencing the policy of conch management. We have presented our data at meetings and continue to talk to fishermen about co-management options. Tarran Simms leads on-site discussions with fishermen around the Bahamas.