Seashell Collecting

Beachcomber, thanks to you, St Thomas This Week is going to remove the article! I sent her an email with your attachment, and she immediately responded.

"We will remove the shell collecting article from our website and will make a note on our shell identification page that they are not to be taken from the beaches.

Thanks,

Frannie"

I'm thrilled!

Wow that's awesome 🙂

One small step for seashells, one giant leap in faith of making a difference!

On the subject of conch, I personally am chapped every time I see it for sale during the "do not take" season (which doesn't end until Sept 30). I mean, it is so blatantly obvious! You can buy it on any roadside or at the Farmer's Markets. But enforcement seems to be - none. Even restaurants still sell it for consumption during that time.

Even restaurants still sell it for consumption during that time.

I think you'll find that the majority of conch sold in restaurants is from overseas and purchased from the food wholesalers in 5lb frozen boxes. You can purchase the same product retail at several supermarkets.

Even restaurants still sell it for consumption during that time.

I think you'll find that the majority of conch sold in restaurants is from overseas and purchased from the food wholesalers in 5lb frozen boxes. You can purchase the same product retail at several supermarkets.

Not on STX. Several even advertise it as "freshly caught."

ETA: I'm sure the majority sell frozen conch, but not all do. There are Crucian restaurants that still sell local conch during the "no take" period.

Someone may have posted this already (I'm trying to catch up!), but here's the Nature Conservancy page on their efforts in the VI. And they specifically discuss coral conservation:

http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/caribbean/virginislands/index.htm

Even restaurants still sell it for consumption during that time.

I think you'll find that the majority of conch sold in restaurants is from overseas and purchased from the food wholesalers in 5lb frozen boxes. You can purchase the same product retail at several supermarkets.

Not on STX. Several even advertise it as "freshly caught."

ETA: I'm sure the majority sell frozen conch, but not all do. There are Crucian restaurants that still sell local conch during the "no take" period.

Ah, but it could have been "freshly caught" in season, then prepped, frozen and saved for when it's out of season Restaurant verbiage! 😀

Even restaurants still sell it for consumption during that time.

I think you'll find that the majority of conch sold in restaurants is from overseas and purchased from the food wholesalers in 5lb frozen boxes. You can purchase the same product retail at several supermarkets.

Not on STX. Several even advertise it as "freshly caught."

ETA: I'm sure the majority sell frozen conch, but not all do. There are Crucian restaurants that still sell local conch during the "no take" period.

Ah, but it could have been "freshly caught" in season, then prepped, frozen and saved for when it's out of season Restaurant verbiage! 😀

Not the restaurants I'm thinking of. I know that isn't the case. :X

But I won't name names here! They are not the "touristy" restaurants, like the ones on the boardwalk - more the moms and pops. But no, it is not as innocent as you might hope it is. And regardless of restaurants, there is a man or a group of men with a cooler on the back of a pickup truck to be found in many places all around de island on any given Saturday, full of "fresh conch." Theirs wasn't prepped, frozen, and saved for later either.

And regardless of restaurants, there is a man or a group of men with a cooler on the back of a pickup truck to be found in many places all around de island on any given Saturday, full of "fresh conch." Theirs wasn't prepped, frozen, and saved for later either.

Call Fish and Wildlife and turn them in.

And regardless of restaurants, there is a man or a group of men with a cooler on the back of a pickup truck to be found in many places all around de island on any given Saturday, full of "fresh conch." Theirs wasn't prepped, frozen, and saved for later either.

Call Fish and Wildlife and turn them in.

Again, that's the point I'm making, back in a circle...there is still nothing done about it. There is no regulation.

And regardless of restaurants, there is a man or a group of men with a cooler on the back of a pickup truck to be found in many places all around de island on any given Saturday, full of "fresh conch." Theirs wasn't prepped, frozen, and saved for later either.

Call Fish and Wildlife and turn them in.

Again, that's the point I'm making, back in a circle...there is still nothing done about it. There is no regulation.

Did you do it? Get their license plate number, description, times and places of operation - and turn in the information, follow up?

And regardless of restaurants, there is a man or a group of men with a cooler on the back of a pickup truck to be found in many places all around de island on any given Saturday, full of "fresh conch." Theirs wasn't prepped, frozen, and saved for later either.

Call Fish and Wildlife and turn them in.

Again, that's the point I'm making, back in a circle...there is still nothing done about it. There is no regulation.

Did you do it? Get their license plate number, description, times and places of operation - and turn in the information, follow up?

I have not, personally, no. But my friends in Park Service and that are biologists in the East End park do. But again, nothing is done, not even a drive-by. Is is ubiquitous here. And it isn't just conch, even though that's one of the worst. What is needed is enforcement on the fishing docks when the boats come in in the morning, and there is none.

Did you do it? Get their license plate number, description, times and places of operation - and turn in the information, follow up?

And it's DPNR, btw. If they were really concerned they would be at the La Reine market on Saturday, which is the biggest market on island, with the fishermen with signs advertising "CONCH!!" for sale. Seriously, it doesn't need to be turned in by a private citizen when its so blatant.

And it's DPNR, btw. If they were really concerned they would be at the La Reine market on Saturday, which is the biggest market on island, with the fishermen with signs advertising "CONCH!!" for sale. Seriously, it doesn't need to be turned in by a private citizen when its so blatant.

Fish and Wildlife has always, as far as I know, been a division of DPNR. Part of the problem with this and other issues is that so many people are uncomfortable about turning anyone in for anything, just shrug their shoulders and say it's not right but don't do anything about it. Unfortunately not much different in any community anywhere. 🙁

And it's DPNR, btw. If they were really concerned they would be at the La Reine market on Saturday, which is the biggest market on island, with the fishermen with signs advertising "CONCH!!" for sale. Seriously, it doesn't need to be turned in by a private citizen when its so blatant.

Fish and Wildlife has always, as far as I know, been a division of DPNR. Part of the problem with this and other issues is that so many people are uncomfortable about turning anyone in for anything, just shrug their shoulders and say it's not right but don't do anything about it. Unfortunately not much different in any community anywhere. 🙁

I agree with that statement in general, but you and I both know that we are lacking some infrastructure in the VI. At least on STX, this is one of them. It doesn't mean that people just shrug their shoulders, it's just another thing on the list that isn't going to be a fast and easy phone call fix.

Beachcomber, thanks to you, St Thomas This Week is going to remove the article! I sent her an email with your attachment, and she immediately responded.

"We will remove the shell collecting article from our website and will make a note on our shell identification page that they are not to be taken from the beaches.

Thanks,

Frannie"

I'm thrilled!

Frannie, aka, ms411, you're welcome! I don't know what I contributed except DPNR links, but if it helped, that's great!

I agree with that statement in general, but you and I both know that we are lacking some infrastructure in the VI. At least on STX, this is one of them. It doesn't mean that people just shrug their shoulders, it's just another thing on the list that isn't going to be a fast and easy phone call fix.

Ah, but the difference between you and I at our different places in time is that I don't assume that getting something done is "going to be a fast and easy phone call fix". It often takes several phone calls to several different agencies, several letters ditto and a lot of follow-up. When one is finally successful though - priceless!

It is against VI Code to collect shells, coral, live rock, bird eggs or nests, etc. And conch shells too. Customs has been confiscating that stuff.
The above is from a friend at Fish and Wildlife.

JulieKay, call the following phone number to report violations.

DPNR's Division of Enviromental Enforcement

Stt/Stj 774-3320 ext. 5160
Stx 773-5774

I hope you get action. Good luck!

JulieKay, call the following phone number to report violations.

DPNR's Division of Enviromental Enforcement

Stt/Stj 774-3320 ext. 5160
Stx 773-5774

I hope you get action. Good luck!

Thank you, but this isn't going to be the cause I take up on island. I already have another one. 🙂 I will however, pass this on to my friends who are active in this area of conservation.

It is against VI Code to collect shells, coral, live rock, bird eggs or nests, etc. And conch shells too. Customs has been confiscating that stuff.
The above is from a friend at Fish and Wildlife.

If you can catch legal size conch shells during season for food, why would customs confiscate the conch shells that are left over (if they are legal size and cleaned)?

This is getting very confusing concerning conch shells :S

(I don't collect, but others that do need accurate information)

JulieKay, call the following phone number to report violations.

DPNR's Division of Enviromental Enforcement

Stt/Stj 774-3320 ext. 5160
Stx 773-5774

I hope you get action. Good luck!

Thank you, but this isn't going to be the cause I take up on island. I already have another one. 🙂 I will however, pass this on to my friends who are active in this area of conservation.

You're welcome. Pass it on to whoever you think will benefit.

It is against VI Code to collect shells, coral, live rock, bird eggs or nests, etc. And conch shells too. Customs has been confiscating that stuff.
The above is from a friend at Fish and Wildlife.

If you can catch legal size conch shells during season for food, why would customs confiscate the conch shells that are left over (if they are legal size and cleaned)?

This is getting very confusing concerning conch shells :S

(I don't collect, but others that do need accurate information)

I know at one time, the conch shells were encouraged to be tossed back to encourage reef formation. I don't know that this is true though. Other than that, I wonder...to not promote overfishing of conch for "decorative" purposes by creating a market for shells? But that is a flat out guess...?

It is against VI Code to collect shells, coral, live rock, bird eggs or nests, etc. And conch shells too. Customs has been confiscating that stuff.
The above is from a friend at Fish and Wildlife.

If you can catch legal size conch shells during season for food, why would customs confiscate the conch shells that are left over (if they are legal size and cleaned)?

This is getting very confusing concerning conch shells :S

(I don't collect, but others that do need accurate information)

I know at one time, the conch shells were encouraged to be tossed back to encourage reef formation. I don't know that this is true though. Other than that, I wonder...to not promote overfishing of conch for "decorative" purposes by creating a market for shells? But that is a flat out guess...?

But see, this is where the confusion lies. Are the shells a by catch product or a shell and therefore illegal to leave the territory? As for reef formation, why not toss tires or old concrete blocks in the ocean? I understand that shells are more natural but really, he conchs are already dead, no new conchs use those shells, so what's the harm? If we don't toss them back, we can always decorate our houses with them, or use them as horns, or drinking cups(what's the difference if they are out of the water?)......I used to travel to the states with my conch horn back in college every time I flew back and forth and they NEVER confiscated my horn - I would have been devastated, it was such a hit at games and parties!!!

On another note, bird nests? My dd collects them, ALL nests that she take takes are already on the ground. What is the harm in taking bird nests???? Most nests here get destroyed during hurricane season anyway, so why not take the ones from the ground?