AGRICULTURE and Marine Resources Minister Michael Pintard said a national survey is being conducted among stakeholders about a closed conch season which would protect stocks.

Speaking to reporters yesterday at the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Pintard said: "We have been very clear in the ministry in terms of the measures that we were pushing, and I can outline those, but I should also say that a survey is being conducted nationally to get the views of all stakeholders. We will make decisions at the end of having canvassed all stakeholders.

"The principle position we have been pushing is one that we want fishers to give serious consideration to the possibility that we will ask them to land conch in the shell since lip thickness is the best way to determine the maturity of the conch. We heard a lot about persons having small conchs. The assumption is for every small conch you see somebody is engaged in something illegal."

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