You should read CITES and how it applies to Strombus gigas. The
collection and export of S. gigas is not prohibited. Try it...you'll
like it!

Bill F.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ellen Bulger" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2001 10:05 AM
Subject: Re: Queen Conch Fisheries reopens in Jamaica


> In a message dated 5/12/01 2:02:17 AM, [log in to unmask] writes:
>
> << According to a news item on the "Environment News Service" a local
judge
> has given the sign to reopen the Queen Conch Fisheries in Jamaica after a
two
> years ban. This in spite of the fact that the Queen Conch Strombus gigas
is a
> CITES species. Only fully regulated fisheries on Queen Conchs are allowed.
> For full text I refer to:
> http://ens-news.com/ens/may2001/2001L-05-11-01.html
>
> Henk K. Mienis  >>
>
> Hello Shell People,
>
> So how does this ban work? How is it that the Bahamians eat local conch
every
> day? And where do the conch in the delicious curried conch I've eaten at
> Ka-RUM-Ba's on Duvall Street on Key West come from? (Might I recommend
their
> gaspacho as an appetizer, it is delicious.)
>
> I'm more than a little dubious about CITES after having read Eric Hanson's
> excellent "Orchid Fever". Rather than saving species, CITES regulations
have
> hastened their demise by making it illegal to collect seed for propagation
> purposes, even if the bulldozers are bearing down on the plants for an
> airstrip, logging road or strip mine.
>
> I admit I hadn't heard of CITES until the occasional mention on this list.
> But after reading Hanson's book and learning of the bureaucratic
stupidities
> and abuses, my hair was standing on end. I'm not an Orchid person, the
only
> reason I picked up the book was that I had so enjoyed his other books,
> "Motoring with Mohammed" and "Stranger in the Forest, On Foot Across
Borneo".
> (I recommend these books too. If you find yourself dining alone at
> Ka-RUM-Ba's, you can read them as you enjoy your gaspacho.)   I'm really
> hoping that CITES regulations aren't so damaging to mollusk species.
>
> Ellen