The Department of Biological Sciences Seminar Series presents:
Queen Conch (Aliger gigas) Restoration Research in the Florida Keys
With Gabriel Delgado PhD Associate Research Scientist, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commision, Fish & Wildlife Research Institute
When: August 28
Time: 5-6pm
Location: Cotilla Gallery, 2nd Floor
Overview:
The queen conch (Aliger gigas) is a large marine snail and the namesake of the Florida Keys (AKA, the Conch Republic). Queen conch were once quite plentiful in the Keys, but years of overexploitation by commercial and recreational fishers depleted their numbers. In 1986, the delicious addition to salads, fritters, and chowders was completely protected from harvest in State and Federal waters. The conch that you eat at local restaurants now has to be imported from the remainder of the Caribbean. Continued overexploitation in the Caribbean and the unknown effects of climate change could potentially land the species on the US Endangered Species List. Join us to learn about the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Queen Conch Restoration Research and their efforts to bring Conch back to the Conch Republic.