Overfishing of conch, leading to dwindling catches.
Alongside the St Vincent and the Grenadines Nature Fund (SVGNF), Blue Marine conducted dive surveys of conch and reef fish to understand stock health, and gathered insights from fishers who had expressed concern around dwindling catches. This led the Government to declare a three-month closed season on conch during the spawning season.
In 2024, using local conch divers as part of the survey team, we searched for potential conch nursery grounds around the islands of Bequia and Isle à Quatre. With the support of local communities, Blue Marine and SVGNF have now proposed four nursery rest areas in the Grenadines where high numbers of juvenile conch were recorded in seagrass beds.
We will continue to gather further evidence to protect biodiversity hotspots, and look to manage damaging activities such as discharge from yacht tourism. Our work with local communities to conserve the marine ecosystems of this Caribbean paradise will help to safeguard their livelihoods into the future.
From 2016 to 2022 conch landings in St Vincent and the Grenadines increased by more than 900 per cent. The Ministry of Fisheries reached out to Blue Marine for support in introducing new management measures. We are working with the government to ensure effective conch fishery management into the future.
This island cluster of the Dutch Caribbean hosts a huge variety of species, many of them unique. Local governments and conservation groups have made major marine protection commitments — and Blue Marine is supporting their delivery.
When the Caribbean nation committed to protecting 30 per cent of its waters in 2024, Blue Marine supported the designation of two extensive marine protected areas. These will be safe home for an abundance of animal and plant life.
The fishing and tourism industries of the Caribbean nation depend on the good health of its rich coral reef and seagrass. Blue Marine is working with local partners to tackle the degradation that threatens them both.
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