Amid a national campaign to save the conch, fishermen fear radical measures could jeopardize their livelihoods.
The precious mollusc plays a crucial role in the country's economy, culture and national identity. However, overfishing, premature harvesting and poaching by foreign vessels have reduced the conch population to alarming levels.
Many environmentalists worry the conch could be pushed to the brink of extinction. Bahamians will have their chance to offer their concerns and recommendations at the official launch of "Conchservation" tomorrow at Arawak Cay from noon until 4 p.m.
Adrian La Roda, a spokesperson for the Bahamas Commercial Fishers
Alliance (BCFA), said that industry supports the sustainable harvesting of marine resources.
Careful thought and consultation should take place with fishermen, he said, to ensure no hasty decisions are made.
"We do not agree with specifying a conch season," he explained. "Sustainability is first and foremost, but the implementation of conservation efforts has to be well thought out and not done by a select group of people. Trust me, the information fishermen have is more valuable."
La Roda argues that imposing seasonal fishing or an outright ban would cripple the industry. Instead, the BCFA is pushing for protected areas and having established nurseries.
"They would have enough of a population to sustain the other areas that are not protected. Conchs will eventually migrate," he told Guardian Business. "Right now they would love to say, put in a season or close it down. We would never agree to it. But we do agree there needs to be conservation."
One stumbling block to progress is the government does not have the resources to perform accurate marine studies, La Roda said. The only solution is to go directly to Bahamians that are actively harvesting the conch.
Jared Dillet, co-coordinator of the Conchservation campaign, agreed that there are sparse statistics when it comes to conch. Little is known about how much conch is consumed domestically on a yearly basis. While the animal is apparently the country's second largest export, after lobster, the campaign did not know exactly how much is sold abroad on an annual basis.
All Dillet knows is more information is needed and a national dialogue is underway.
"This is about engagement. We have to take it to the people and have some intense discussions," he said.
When asked by Guardian Business if enforcing a conch season is on the table, he said, "I'm sure it will be there. But there are other management measures, such has ensuring conchs being harvested are of a certain maturity. Enforcement isn't our mandate, but there are provisions out there that if a conch is immature, there is a fine and possible imprisonment."
Policing illegal conch fishing, however, is entirely another matter in an archipelagic nation. The Bahamas has struggled with enforcing the rules and regulations of the fishing industry for years, particularly the issue of poaching from neighboring countries.
Dillet said these realities can not be used as an excuse, or a cultural symbol of The Bahamas could indeed fade away.
"If we do not manage the resource, it can go towards extinction. We have to look at our stocks and make decisions," he said.
The Conchservation campaign is being spearheaded by the Bahamas National Trust (BNT). Back in March, the Sandals Foundation made a $15,000 donation to get the campaign started. U.S. environmentalist and attorney Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will attend tomorrow's event.

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