Hawk channel has
>grassy bottom in most areas and is only about 15 to 20 ft deep (there may
>be some
>nice deep 30 ft holes here and there). It seems improbabble that conchs are
>prevented from crossing such a shallow food-friendly channel.
 
I was only quoting the expert who spoke to the club. He's involved with
conch research and the conch farm on Long Key. I was surprised too.
 
 Where does the
>offshore population live, on  the reefs?
 
Yes, mostly I guess. I do know I see plenty of conch in the shallow reef
habitat on my annual trips to Key West. The reef water is definitely
cleaner than the inshore water, true blue rather than green. In the Bahamas
conch live in water up to 50' deep, I think.
 
Peggy
 
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                                  Peggy Williams
                                   Shell Elegant Tours
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