Stop littering conch shells in TCMP – Park manager

The Park Manager of the Tobago Cays Marine Park (TCMP) is asking conch divers to desist from littering empty shells within the confines of the Park.

Lesroy Noel was contacted by SEARCHLIGHT regarding the matter of prohibited fishing and a recent discovery of fish pots within the conservation area.

However, he noted that there is also another issue that the TCMP wanted to bring to light.

Noel disclosed that there are fishermen who dive for conch in the neighbouring islands.

“They’re not diving in the Park but when they retrieve the conch they have to take them out of the shell and we have had instances where they’re actually littering the shells in the park,” he stated.

The Manager revealed that this action of throwing shells in the waters of the Park could destroy the reef and marine life.

The TCMP, declared as a Marine Park in 1997, has multiple reef systems including a horseshoe reef that encloses four cays – Petit Rameau, Petit Bateau, Jamesby and Baradal.

“We want to make an appeal to those fishermen who are doing so to desist from doing so because they’re causing more danger to the marine life within the park,” the Park Manager said, adding that they know that those responsible are located on Canouan.

“We have had to chase them a couple times, we have actually called in the coast guard to assist, but we kind of want to make an appeal because it’s not always we want to use force on people, we want people to understand, it’s important that we educate them,” he concluded.