KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries says the prohibition on queen conch fishing is still in effect and warns that any breaches of the Close Season Order will be severely penalised in accordance with the Fisheries Act 2018.

Portfolio Minister Audley Shaw, by way of Ministerial Order, declared a Close Season for queen conch (Genus Strombus) for the period March 1, 2019 to January 31, 2020 which states that during the period of the close season, it shall be illegal for any person to catch queen conch and/or harvest any conch products including conch shell and conch opercula.

The order also states that during the period March 22, 2019 to January 31, 2020, it shall be illegal for any person to sell, process or import conch meat and/or conch opercula.

According to the ministry, all conch meat and conch opercula in the possession of any person after March 21, 2019 which have not been inspected and verified by the National Fisheries Authority, previously called the Fisheries Division, via a Certificate of Conch Products in storage will be seized and the person in possession will be liable to prosecution and a fine or imprisonment in default of payment of such fine.

It said: “Any person found in possession of conch meat and/or conch opercula for commercial purposes including, but not limited to: fishers, vendors, middlemen, wholesalers, cold storage facility operators, stores operators at hotels and restaurants, cook shop operators, all operators of eating establishments and jewelry establishments and any other establishment in possession of conch opercula for commercial purposes should have declared this effective March 28, 2019.”

The agriculture ministry said in light of recent reports of illegal conch fishing, it is sending a very firm, unequivocal appeal and warning to all those involved to desist from breaching the regulations and to help to safeguard the livelihood of thousands of Jamaicans.

It also warned that failure to cooperate and abide by the law will result in the imposition of the heaviest possible sanctions under the law.