Vicky Wall wrote:

> I saw the same situation when in the Keys a couple of years ago. It was
> great to see so many "grazing" in the seagrass. If commercial harvesting
> can be permanently banned, I believe the numbers of queen conchs would
> recover. I haven't heard of any mollusk becoming endangered due to
> individual collectors. Vicky Wall

There are two kinds of commercial harvesting: for the meat, and
for sale to individual collectors. Both are banned in Florida.
Commercial meat harvesting has been dramatically reduced.
Commercial live shell harvesting has been reduced, but is still
widespread.

I agree that an individual collecting for his own collection is
not a threat.

m

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