Ross Mayhew wrote:
>
> My apologies if part of this posting is perhaps not a fitting request
> for this list.  First, i am wondering if Strombus gigas is still
> "farmed" for food in parts of the Carribean these days, and on what
> scale?  Do most of the shells go into the tourist trade? (i.e. for
> tourists from countries other than the USA)  Second, if the answer is
> yes, does anyone have the email or other contract information for one or
> more of these "conch farms"??
>
> I would also like to know if anyone knows how easy it is to culture
> Strombus gigas pearls?  I understand they can be extremely beautiful,
> yet i have never heard of them being cultured.
>
> >From Summertime in the Faire Lande of New Scotland,
> Ross M.

I believe there are a couple S. gigas farms in the Bahamas.

We also have one here in Florida, at Harbor Branch Oceanographic. A
friend used to be their chief flak, but has left. They do enjoy
visitors, though.

See: http://www.hboi.edu/news/features/queenconch.html

m