God Save the Queen!
The queen conch (Strombus gigas) has been a staple of Caribbean cuisine since the days of the Amerindians. Due to unsustainable practices, entire populations in Trinidad have been fished out and remaining populations in Tobago are near collapse. To prevent the extinction of the queen conch, I propose the development of an aquaculture program on the island of Tobago. The project is designed to raise conchs from eggs in a hatchery and nursery facility on land, to adults in a ranch within the Buccoo Reef Marine Park. Mature adults will then be returned to the wild where they function as keystone herbivorous species helping to keep the ecosystem clean and in balance. The project will require an initial investment, but is expected to recoup costs and serve as a source of income for the community as excess conchs can be sold to restaurants and other vendors. This project would facilitate a sustainable queen conch fishery providing enhanced economic benefits while ensuring its protection.
- Problema que resuelve su propuesta
- In the 1990s, the global conch market was estimated at US$60 million dollars with 1.4 million kilograms of conch being exported to the US. However, the increased demand for conch coupled with its relatively long sexual maturation cycle (3-4 years) and its easily exploitable breeding aggregations has pushed stocks to the brink of collapse according to the Buccoo Reef Trust. This has resulted in the declining health of their seagrass habitats and nearby coral reefs. In addition to its valuable meat, conchs are also fished for their shells and pearls which are used to make jewellery or sold as tourist souvenirs. Its loss not only jeopardizes the livelihoods of Tobagonian fishers, but also restaurateurs, craftspeople and vendors. In addition, the conch shell is used in religious ceremonies, Caribbean music and as a victory trumpet at cricket matches. For Caribbean people, the loss of the conch is more than the loss of a species- it is a loss of our culture.
- ¿Qué impacto positivo tiene o tendría su propuesta en su comunidad? Cuáles son las mejoras concretas ambientales o sociales
- Firstly, the conch farm would create alternative jobs for conch fishers, thus reducing the stress on wild stocks. The farm grown adults can then be used to restock wild populations and restore the species. This is expected to increase the health of seagrass beds and increase water quality. This will in turn benefit other organisms and marine ecosystems. Economically, the community would benefit from the sale and distribution of conch meat, shells and pearls as well as other spin-off industries such as restaurants and tourist shops. The farm would become a tourist destination generating sustainable income and jobs for the community. Additionally, the farm can serve as a research and education center to educate members of the community, citizens and tourists about the cultural, economic and environmental importance of the queen conch. The project will create new jobs for young adults in Tobago where the youth unemployment rate is 6.5%.
- ¿Por qué te interesa involucrarte con problemáticas que afectan al ambiente y/o a los océanos?
- At a young age I developed a passion for ocean conservation, and to this day, my first SCUBA dive is one of the most momentous occasions in my life. Growing up on an island, I was surrounded by beautiful beaches and reefs, and over time I have seen their slow but steady degradation. Often, it seems that the environment is sacrificed for the sake of profit and the livelihoods of ordinary people are used to justify it. In small island Caribbean states like mine, sustainability seems like a first world ideal that we cannot achieve. As a Marine Biology and Ecology student, I have challenged myself to come up with an idea that is truly sustainable, preserving both the environment and livelihoods. I hope that the economic advantages of this project encourages corporations and individuals alike to invest in a healthy environment and that young people will see this as a viable career path. I hope that one day environmentalist will be just as coveted a job as doctor, lawyer or engineer.
- Principal ODS con el que se vincula tu propuesta
- SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production
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