TIDE Uncovers Illegal Conch Farming Operation in Southern Belize

The Queen Conch season in Belize was officially opened 28 days ago; however, a large bust of an illegal conch farming was uncovered by the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE). We join our senior Toledo correspondent, Paul Mahaung, for that story. 

Paul Mahung, Correspondent: “TIDE rangers on recent routine patrol and protected marine reserve in Belize’s southern waters uncovered illegal conch harvesting. The enforcement team of rangers went to the site as explained by Toledo Institute for Development and Environment, TIDE’s Executive Director Leonardo Chavarria.”

Leonardo Chavarria, Executive Director, TIDE: “In a report, our rangers based at the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve on the 23rd actually encountered an illegal harvesting operation located on a small island within the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve. So, upon inspection of this island, these rangers encountered a conch pen which included 82 legal size conch and 72 undersized conchs. These presumably were being raised in this pen on this small island. The issue is that the 72 undersized conks measured below 7 inches in shell length or 17.8 centimeters so below that measurement, so these were obviously undersized conks. What was done is that because nobody was in the immediate vicinity, however two caretakers were located on a nearby island who also oversee this particular small island. This is a pending investigation by the Belize Fisheries Department so we documented all of the pictures, the location of this illegal harvesting operation. And what we did is that we transported the live conch to another location within the marine reserve and then we released them back into the natural environment.”

Paul Mahung, Correspondent: “TIDE continues to engage stakeholders in sustainable management of natural resources in both protected Marine and Land Reserves under       co-management of Toledo Institute for Development and Environment. Paul Mahung,  Love News Toledo.