Saving the Queen: How Mobile Hatcheries Are Reviving Caribbean Conch

Episode Summary Queen conch have long been a cultural, ecological, and economic cornerstone throughout the Caribbean, but decades of overfishing, habitat degradation, and climate impacts have caused populations to decline dramatically. In this episode, Becky Holt and Dr. Megan Davis of the Florida Atlantic University Queen Conch Lab share how their team is working to reverse that trend through restoration aquaculture, community partnerships, and an innovative network of mobile hatcheries deployed throughout the Caribbean. The conversation explores how the Queen Conch Lab evolved from a single collaborative project in Puerto Rico into a growing regional initiative with mobile labs operating across multiple Caribbean nations. Becky and Megan discuss everything from the biology of queen conch and their role in maintaining healthy seagrass ecosystems to the logistics of raising larvae, training local communities, and building long-term conservation programs. They also reflect on winning the 2025 Responsible Seafood Summit Innovation Award and their vision of establishing a queen conch farm in every Caribbean country. Featured Guests Dr. Megan Davis - Research Professor and Director, Florida Atlantic University Queen Conch Lab Becky Holt - Assistant Director, Florida Atlantic University Queen Conch Lab Key Topics Covered Why queen conch are critical to Caribbean ecosystems and coastal communities How conch help maintain healthy seagrass beds and biodiversity The development of mobile queen conch hatcheries Community-based restoration and local workforce training The lifecycle and aquaculture process of queen conch “Conch ranching” and nursery release strategies Educational outreach through the “Conch in the Classroom” program Challenges facing queen conch populations, including climate change and overfishing The Queen Conch Lab’s 2025 Responsible Seafood Summit Innovation Award win The future potential for commercial queen conch aquaculture Key Takeaways Queen conch play a major ecological role by naturally grazing and cleaning seagrass habitats. Successful restoration efforts depend heavily on local partnerships and community involvement. Mobile hatcheries allow restoration projects to operate in remote Caribbean regions without major infrastructure needs. Queen conch restoration creates both conservation benefits and economic opportunities for local communities. Education and hands-on engagement are helping inspire the next generation of ocean stewards throughout the Caribbean. The Queen Conch Lab’s long-term vision is to establish restoration-focused conch farming initiatives throughout the Caribbean region. Links and Resources Mentioned Queen Conch Lab  Florida Atlantic University Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Instagram Queen Conch Lab Global Seafood Alliance Responsible Seafood Summit Follow us on social media! Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram Share your sustainability tips with us [email protected]! Do you have a seafood innovation? Applications are now open for this years Responsible Seafood Innovation Awards. APPLY NOW If you want to be more involved in the work that we do, become a member of the Global Seafood Alliance: https://www.globalseafood.org/membership/   The views expressed by external guests on Aquademia are their own and do not reflect the opinions of Aquademia or the Global Seafood Alliance. Listeners are advised to independently verify information and consult experts for any specific advice or decisions.