Our Aquaculture Manager, Mia Avril, just returned from a trip to the Grand Bahama Queen Conch Mariculture Centre, which is located at the Blue Action Lab, based at Coral Vita in Grand Bahama to learn all there is to know about raising conch from eggs to maturity. 

This training program was conducted by the queen conch doctor herself, Megan Davis, from the Queen Conch Lab at Florida Atlantic University who is the world’s leading expert on queen conch aquaculture. 

Participants in the program included representatives from Bahamas National Trust (BNT) in Exuma, where another hatchery will be set up this summer, as well as individuals from Blue Action Lab, where a new hatchery is being run for the first time. Participants had the opportunity to troubleshoot minor issues, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the mobile hatchery system.

The Queen conch is important to Bahamian culture, as well as the economy, but overfishing and habitat degradation have led to declining conch populations across the Caribbean. Aquaculture serves as a tool for improving understanding and protecting wild conch populations.

Conch larvae under a microscope at the Blue Action Lab.

The purpose of the training was to receive hands-on experience in all aspects of conch hatchery and nursery operations and management. Various activities including care for eggs, preparation of algal diets for veligers (newly hatched conch larvae), and cleaning of laboratory equipment were conducted. 

During this training, participants also enjoyed field trips to conch fishing villages in Grand Bahama to emphasize the importance of the work being done in these conch hatcheries. At the Cape Eleuthera Institute, our plan is to develop a mobile hatchery by this time next year.