Queen Conch Quota – Belize Fisheries

The public is informed that the production quota for market queen conch meat for the season 2017-2018 has been set at 884,092 pounds.

The opening of conch season is from October 1^st, 2017 to June 30^th, 2018.  The public is advised that if the conch production quota is realized earlier, the conch season will be declared closed.  

The Fisheries Department hereby makes a special appeal to and urges responsible citizens to call 224-4552/203-2623, email fisheries_department@fisheries.gov.bzor Crime Stoppers Belize at 0-800-922-TIPS (8477) to report any Fisheries infractions.  The Department assures that all information communicated will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Fisheries Regulation which relates to Queen Conch (Strombus gigas):

Regulation 6 (1) No person shall take in the waters of Belize, buy, sell or have in his possession:

 a) any conch between the 1st July and the 30th September, inclusive, in any year;

b) i) at any time, conch the overall shell length of which does not exceed 7 inches (17.8 centimeters);

ii) the weight of unprocessed conch taken which does not exceed 7 ½ ounces (213 grams);

iii) the weight of partially process (market clean) conch taken which does not exceed 3 ounces (85 grams);

iv) the weight of fully process (fillet) queen conch taken which does not exceed 2 ¾ ounces (78 grams);

Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of the Fisheries Act, commits an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction.

*This above is in accordance with Regulation 24A (2) of Statutory Instrument No. 54 of 2012 of the Fisheries (Amendment) Regulations, 2012.