Queen conch is a species of large sea snails, a gastropod mollusk, that is distributed throughout the Caribbean Sea. Learn about the status and management of these marine mollusks.
Overharvest,
Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing
Region
Southeast
Researcher holding juvenile queen conch. Shown is the spiral-shaped shell with a glossy pink/orange interior, part of the soft interior body, and large eyes on the end of stalks. Credit: Jennifer Doerr, NOAA SEFSC Galveston
Researcher holding juvenile queen conch. Shown is the spiral-shaped shell with a glossy pink/orange interior, part of the soft interior body, and large eyes on the end of stalks. Credit: Jennifer Doerr, NOAA SEFSC Galveston
About the Species
Researcher holding juvenile queen conch. Shown is the spiral-shaped shell with a glossy pink/orange interior, part of the soft interior body, and large eyes on the end of stalks. Credit: Jennifer Doerr, NOAA SEFSC Galveston
Researcher holding juvenile queen conch. Shown is the spiral-shaped shell with a glossy pink/orange interior, part of the soft interior body, and large eyes on the end of stalks. Credit: Jennifer Doerr, NOAA SEFSC Galveston
Queen conch is a large marine gastropod (snail) in phylum Mollusca. They are slow growing and late to mature, reaching up to 12 inches in length and living up to 30 years. Queen conch occurs throughout the Caribbean Sea, the Florida Keys, and around Bermuda. They are benthic-grazing herbivores that feed on algal and plant material. Adult queen conch prefer sandy algal flats but are also found on gravel, coral rubble, smooth hard coral, and beach rock bottom, while juveniles are primarily associated with seagrass beds.
Queen conch are highly sought after for their meat and are one of the most valuable species in the Caribbean. Learn more about their current fishing/harvest status.
Queen conch are characterized by a large, heavy, whorl-shaped shell with multiple short spines at the apex, a brown and rough operculum, and a pink interior of the shell lip. They have long eye stalks that can be moved independently and a tube-like mouth called a proboscis that can pull into its shell if threatened. Queen conch can grow up to 12 inches and weigh up to 5 pounds. Females on average grow more quickly than males, to a larger size, and have greater weight than males.
Biology
Queen conch is a long lived species, generally reaching 25 to 30 years old and are believed to reach sexual maturity around 3.5 to 4 years of age. Upon reaching sexual maturity, they stop growing in length; and thereafter, the shell grows only in thickness. Size at maturity can vary depending on environmental conditions.
Queen conch have a spawning season of 4 to 9 months, with peak spawning during warmer months. They reproduce through internal fertilization, meaning individuals must be in physical contact to mate. Females can store fertilized eggs for several weeks, and eggs may be fertilized by multiple males. Egg laying takes 24 to 36 hours, with each egg mass containing about 750,000 eggs. After an incubation period of about 5 days, the eggs hatch, and the larvae drift in the water column from 21 to 30 days before settling to the bottom and metamorphosing into the adult form.
Because conch are slow moving and require direct contact to mate, these life history traits make them vulnerable to processes that impact reproductive success and impede recovery of depleted populations.
Larval conch feed on phytoplankton, and juvenile conch feed primarily on diatoms, epiphytic microalgae, and organic material in the sediment. Adults feed primarily on different types of filamentous algae.
Where They Live
Range
Queen conch occur throughout the Caribbean Sea, the Florida Keys, and around Bermuda. In the Gulf of Mexico, they can be found in the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.
World map providing approximate representation of the queen conch range
Habitat
Queen conch use different habitat types including seagrass beds, sand flats, algal beds, and rubble areas. Adult distributions are heavily influenced by food availability and fishing pressure. In unexploited areas, they are most common in shallow marine waters less than 100 feet deep.
Scientific Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Mollusca
Class
Gastropoda
Order
Littorinimorpha
Family
Strombidae
Genus
Aliger
Species
gigas
Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 11/20/2024
What We Do
Conservation & Management of Protected Species
We are committed to protecting and rebuilding queen conch through conservation and recovery measures in partnership with other organizations. Our work includes:
Working internationally to reduce poaching and strengthen conservation strategies
Collaborating with regional partners to develop a recovery plan that outlines the recovery actions needed to restore this threatened species
Using the Magnuson-Stevens Act as our guide, we assess the status of stocks, set catch limits, and ensure compliance with fisheries regulations. Our work includes:
Monitoring catch limits for queen conch
Identifying and protecting essential fish habitat
Monitoring progress under the queen conch rebuilding plan
We conduct research activities on the biology, behavior, and ecology of queen conch. The results of this research are used to inform management decisions and enhance recovery efforts for this threatened species. Our work includes:
Ecosystem modeling to determine limiting factors for queen conch reproduction
Evaluation of hatchery methods for rearing queen conch
Assessing genetic variability and connectivity on large and small scales throughout the range of the species
Testing the effectiveness of existing and new monitoring techniques
Assessing population size, age structure, and reproductive success at aggregation sites
Inside Naguabo Queen Conch Hatchery in Puerto Rico. From left to right – Victoria Cassar, Hatchery Manager; Raimundo Espinoza, Executive Director, Conservación ConCiencia and Co-PI on SK NOAA grant; Megan Davis, Research Professor, Florida Atlantic University Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute and PI on SK NOAA grant.
U.S. wild-caught queen conch is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed under a rebuilding plan that allows limited harvest by U.S. fishermen.
Seafood Facts
Is Queen Conch Sustainable?
U.S. wild-caught queen conch is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed under a rebuilding plan that allows limited harvest by U.S. fishermen.
Availability
Conch from the U.S. Caribbean is available during the open season.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Taste
Conch has a sweet, slightly smoky flavor, similar to abalone or clam. Fresh, farmed conch is sweeter and more tender than frozen, wild conch.
Texture
Conch meat is firm with a slightly chewy texture.
Color
Depending on the conch’s size, the meat ranges in color from snow white to a pale, golden orange.
Health Benefits
Queen conch is a good low-fat source of protein. It is high in vitamins E and B12, magnesium, selenium, and folate, but is also high in cholesterol.
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1;
Serving Weight: 100 g (raw);
Calories: 130;
Protein: 26.3 g;
Total Fat: 1.2 g;
Total Saturated Fatty Acids: 0.37 g;
Carbohydrate: 1.7 g;
Total Sugars: 0 g;
Total Dietary Fiber: 0 g;
Cholesterol: 65 mg;
Selenium: 40.3 mcg;
Sodium: 153 mg
Queen conch may not be commercially or recreationally harvested in Florida waters. Limited harvest through a managed fishery occurs in federal waters of the Caribbean.
Fishery Management
Queen conch may not be commercially or recreationally harvested in Florida waters per state law. In the Caribbean, NOAA Fisheries and the Caribbean Fishery Management Council manage queen conch in federal waters, while the governments of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands manage queen conch in their territorial waters.
Population
The stock is overfished, but the fishing rate established under a rebuilding plan promotes population growth.
Fishing Rate
Not subject to overfishing.
Habitat Impacts
Primarily harvested by hand, so there is little impact on habitat.
Bycatch
Primarily harvested by hand, so the fishery is very selective and there is little, if any, bycatch.
Population Status
Queen conch is overfished (2005 Caribbean SFA Amendment), but is not subject to overfishing based on 2022 catch data.
Harvest of queen conch is prohibited in federal waters off Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, and St. John, but is permitted in the territorial waters off these island areas.
Harvest of queen conch is allowed in federal waters around St. Croix east of 64°34′ W longitude during the open fishing season (November through May).
Seasonal and area closures protect juvenile and spawning conch.
Annual catch limits are applicable to federal waters.
Annual quotas apply for harvest of queen conch in territorial waters of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Daily commercial trip limits, recreational bag limits, and minimum size limits apply to queen conch harvest in both federal (where harvest is allowed) and territorial waters.
A rebuilding plan to rebuild the stock to the target population level is in place.
The Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission has a working group that focuses on the sustainable management and conservation of queen conch fisheries and trade in the Wider Caribbean Region.
Harvest
The United States is a major importer of queen conch, due to the limited harvest allowed in federal waters and U.S. Virgin Islands territorial waters.
Commercial landings of queen conch meat from Puerto Rico and St. Thomas/St. John (territorial waters) and St. Croix (federal and territorial waters) in 2021 was 31,000 pounds and were valued at $201,000 according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database.
Queen conch are primarily caught by hand, so there is minimal impact on habitat and little bycatch. The queen conch fishery has a long tradition in the Caribbean region. The meat is sold either fresh or dried. The shells are used in pottery and jewelry and sold in tourist markets.
The primary threat to queen conch is overutilization through commercial and illegal fishing. Despite a multitude of fisheries management measures enacted across the region, populations are depleted. The depleted densities of remaining queen conch populations limit mate finding, reproduction, recruitment, and population connectivity.
Inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms
Existing regulations including minimum size limits, seasonal and area closures, and quotas (as well as compliance and enforcement of these regulations) have been insufficient to protect this species from growth overfishing and poaching. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing for queen conch occurs throughout the Caribbean.
Recovery Planning and Implementation
NOAA Fisheries is in the early stages of developing a recovery plan for queen conch. To gather stakeholder input on recovering the species, NOAA Fisheries hosted several workshops in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Florida, and will be participating in another series of workshops throughout the Caribbean.
Conservation Efforts
NOAA Fisheries is committed to working with partners in the Caribbean region to ensure the effective management and recovery of queen conch.
To prevent international trade from threatening listed species, the United States partners with other nations under CITES. In November 1992, queen conch was included in Appendix II of CITES. After extensive reviews of scientific and management information, CITES proposed a range of actions in the mid-1990s and again in 2003–2005 to improve the sustainability and legality of the trade. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the government agency designated under the ESA to carry out the provisions of CITES, while NOAA Fisheries provides guidance and scientific support on marine issues given our technical expertise.
The United States is also a member of the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission, a regional fisheries body that advises on the conservation, management, and development of marine resources in the Wider Caribbean Region. In recognition of the overutilization of queen conch, WECAFC formed a queen conch working group at their 14th session, in 2012. The working group focuses on strengthening national, regional, and international efforts towards queen conch conservation, while also promoting the fishing communities that depend on them, through the adoption and implementation of the Regional Queen Conch Fisheries Management and Conservation Plan (PDF, 72 pages). The WECAFC working group meets regularly to discuss updates and recommend actions that promote the conservation and sustainable management of queen conch in the region.
Additionally, innovative aquaculture techniques—to raise queen conch from eggs to juveniles, eventually releasing them into the wild—are being explored to help restore declining populations and for sustainable seafood. Farmed queen conch could potentially be used in the future to restock wild populations, however, this strategy may be prohibitive in large scale recovery efforts.
We, NOAA Fisheries, are listing the queen conch as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We have completed a review of the status of queen conch, including efforts being made to protect the species, and considered public comments…
We, NOAA Fisheries, announce the initiation of a status review of queen conch (Strombus gigas) to determine whether listing the species as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is warranted. A comprehensive status review must…
NOAA Fisheries conducts research activities on the biology, behavior, and population health of queen conch to inform management decisions for this species.
Science Overview
NOAA Fisheries conducts various research activities on the biology, behavior, and population health of queen conch. The results of this research are used to inform management decisions for this species.
Evaluating Population Densities of Queen Conch in the United States
NOAA Fisheries has initiated a study to extensively sample the populations of queen conch in Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Surveys are focusing on sampling areas of both low and high densities, therefore ascertaining values for the entire population, including the spawning adults. The project will also identify nursery grounds for the species. The results from this research will be used to inform conservation and mitigation strategies in the region.
Identifying Connectivity Patterns of Queen Conch in the Caribbean
NOAA Fisheries is working with conservation partners to understand queen conch population connectivity. A connectivity model was developed to assess how pelagic (i.e., free-floating) queen conch larvae from different jurisdictions are connected to each other by ocean circulation throughout the wider Caribbean. This “connectivity model” was developed to improve our understanding on how overutilization and low conch densities affect queen conch population connectivity throughout the Caribbean region. This research indicates that historically important ecological corridors for queen conch larvae flow have collapsed, reducing connectivity among populations.
Verifying Physical and Genetic Connectivity Patterns of Queen Conch in the Caribbean
Field sampling is underway to evaluate the connectivity patterns described above while also determining genetic connectivity among locations in the Caribbean. Evaluating the genetics of queen conch throughout the region will allow researchers to verify the physical connectivity model while also determining source and sink locations, thereby identifying areas of conservation and management concern. The results from this study will be used to inform conservation strategies and to guide international engagement efforts.
Puerto Rico Community-Based Queen Conch Hatchery
NOAA Fisheries is supporting the renovation, installation, and operation of a queen conch hatchery in Naguabo, Puerto Rico where local fishermen assist with hatchery operations. To farm queen conch, the fishermen harvest conch egg masses from the ocean which are then hatched and raised for about a year before they are transplanted out to the wild. This outplanting increases the odds of mature queen conch finding a mate to produce the next generation. Queen conch need to be at a density of at least 100 conch per hectare (2.2 acres) in order to find each other for mating. Too few mature conch in the wild impact new juvenile conch recruitment. Funding for two additional hatcheries has been awarded to start work in two other locations in Puerto Rico.
A model of reproductive dynamics was developed to evaluate how variations in biological factors such as population density, rest periods between mating events, scent tracking, and barriers to movement affect the reproductive success of queen conch.
