More Than 1,000 Conchs Seized During Fisheries Patrol

More than one thousand conchs were seized at Sandbore Caye during a joint fisheries patrol, with one person charged with possession during the closed season.  The Belize Fisheries Department says its officers searched a storage facility on Tuesday, September 29, and found two iceboxes containing a total of 1,086 conch. The operation took place within the Lighthouse Reef Atoll Marine Reserve, with members of the Belize Coast Guard accompanying fisheries officers and support from the Belize Audubon Society.  The conch were seized, and the matter is now before the court. In a release issued yesterday, the department reminded fisherfolk, seafood traders and the public to comply with fisheries regulations and report suspected illegal fishing. It says respecting closed seasons helps protect Belize’s fisheries resources and ensures fairness for fishers who follow the law.  The department says it will continue coordinated patrols and information sharing with its enforcement partners to improve monitoring and compliance.