FWC investigating who illegally harvested almost 300 queen conchs in Florida Keys
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission police are looking for whoever illegally harvested nearly 300 queen conchs in the Keys this week.
The 291 empty shells of the federally protected mollusks were found at a rental house on Shoreline Road in Key Haven, a small residential island located about a mile east of Key West, the FWC said in a statement released on social media Friday.
A law-enforcement source said the cleaning crew of the house found the shells after the guests checked out. According to the FWC post, investigators believe the conchs were harvested July 7-10. The meat had already been removed.
Harvesting queen conchs in Florida is a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a fine of $500.
Queen conchs live in spiral sandy-colored shells with a bright pink or orange interior. They are found throughout the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. Florida banned the harvest of the species in the 1970s due to overfishing.
Conch meat is a staple at many Florida restaurants in either fritters or served whole and battered as “cracked conch.” But, all of the conch on the menu is imported from Caribbean nations.
FWC investigators are asking for the public’s help in locating whoever caught the conchs. Specifically, they are looking for eyewitnesses or security-camera footage from any property located on or near Shoreline Road.
Investigators ask anyone with information about the case to call 888-404-3922 or email Tip@myfwc.com.
