An upcoming conch research study in Anguilla was the subject of discussion with officials in the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources and media representatives on Wednesday, September 10.
The discussion was led by Mr Martin Degraaf of the Netherlands who was accompanied by members of his team including a number of his students. The discussion followed a meeting the previous evening with restaurant owners/operators, fisher folk and the members of the general public.
In August 2013, Mr Degraaf was invited to Anguilla to host a workshop on queen conch biology, ecology and stock assessment methods. He has now assigned two of his MSc students, working on conch research in Statia, to assist with a similar study in Anguilla free of charge.
The two students, Wilbert Vandeelen and Bram Broeders, both of the Netherlands, arrived in Anguilla on Tuesday, September 9, along with Mr Degraaf and his assistant, Mr Erik Boman. Both Mr Degraaf and Mr Boman undertook to conduct a three-day training session this week in conch stock assessment and conch DNA tissue sampling.
According to a release, such work is vital to the sustainability of queen conch stocks and in having credible data to issue CITES export permits for conch. A major part of the study is also to determine if Anguilla, St Eustatius, St Martin/StMaarten, St Kitts and other neighbouring islands share the same stock.
