Conch Crisis: Internalized, Socialized & Economized

This study examines the conch crisis internalized, socialized, and economized in the Bahamas. The
decline of the Queen Conch is one of the most notable effects of the increased local fishing. Marine
practitioners have referred to this decline as the "Conch Crisis." This project seeks to understand the
"Conch Crisis" from diverse viewpoints such as those reflected in government policies, the expressed
social-cultural significance of Conch, the people depending on this resource living in Nassau and Sweeting's Cay, Grand Bahama , and the conch fishing sector. 
In the Bahamas, the conch is a significant part of the Bahamian culture because it is inevitable to come across a conch while in the country. It has been used for centuries for food, decoration, jewelry, bait for fishing and an empty conch shell is used as a musical instrument in the annual Junkanoo festival.  Tourism and fishing are the primary sources of foreign exchange for the Bahamas as they contribute about $ 100 million to the country's economy annually. Since 1980, the country has been experiencing
increased local fishing, which has become a major threat to the livelihoods of fishermen, vendors, restaurant owners, seafood wholesalers and processors depend on healthy conch populations local fishers livelihoods and has significantly reduced conch populations.
While most of the Caribbean nations enforce a closed season for conch fishing, the Bahamas does not.
The demand for conch has been increasing with time, and the local fishers fully capitalize on the
mollusks, which has led to a significant decline of the conch population in the county. As a fishery resource, conch contributes millions of dollars to the economy annually. We must use this resource in a sustainable way so that we will continue to benefit from it well into the future.