Marine Fisheries Review

An important scientific workshop on queen conch was held in Caracas, Ven­ ezuela, in July 1991. This workshop and the proceedings that emerged from it (Appeldoom and Rodriguez, 1994) pro­ vided a good background on the status of research on biology, fisheries, and mariculture of the queen conch. Be­ cause the general biology of the queen conch is already relatively well known, the purpose of this paper is to summa­ rize some of the important advances made in the study of queen conch since the 1991 workshop. Emphasis has been placed on topics related to the ecology of queen conch that are most relevant to fisheries management and stock re­ habilitation. In the following sections an attempt has been made to draw con­ clusions about habitat requirements for the species, mortality of juveniles as it relates to stock rehabilitation and en­ hancement, larval ecology and fisher­ ies oceanography of the species, and the conservation of reproductive stocks. 

Abstract:

Ciguatera fish poisoning plays an important role in Caribbean marine resource development. Many independent eastern Caribbean island nations rely heavily on marine protein. Current demand in these areas for seafood approaches 775,000 t, a figure greatly in excess of the 200,000 t potential yield, as well as current landings which are near 87,000 t.

Annual incidence of ciguatera fish poisoning may reach nine per thousand residents in Caribbean communities like St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. These high rates affect public health, fishery development, and liability aspects of island life. Distribution of ciguatera in the Caribbean indicates that it is found most frequently north of Martinique. Three areas of "high risk," as well as "high risk" species, are identified. In St. Thomas nearly 50 percent ofthe 84 species in the catch and 56 percent of the total landings by weight bear some risk of intoxication if eaten.