Taking queen conch shells to home could land you in jail
Many tourists enjoy bringing souvenirs from their vacations, but not everything should be taken from the places where we spend our holidays. Ignorance can end in an unpleasant surprise.
3:14 PM EDT, September 30, 2024
One of the items that tourists frequently try to bring back from vacations are queen conch shells. Queen conchs are large, pinkish-red shells with a spiral shape that make a sound resembling the ocean when held up to the ear.
These shells can be found in regions such as the Caribbean, Bermuda, Florida, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The mollusks living in these shells taste similar to clams and are often sold at local markets.
It's better not to try transporting queen conchs
Many people may not realize that queen conchs are an endangered species. Importing a shell to our home without the appropriate permit can result in detention at the airport.
It is also worth remembering that various regulations apply in the shells' origin countries. For instance, in Florida, possessing a shell with a living mollusk or one in which the spiral has an opening larger than one-sixteenth of an inch is a crime. This indicates the brutal treatment of the animal.
In Caribbean countries, a special permit is required to export even a single shell. In December 2021, Caribbean authorities confiscated five shells from a couple of travelers who tried to export them along with 500 other items illegally.
Why are queen conchs an endangered species?
Queen conchs are rare today because they were harvested for meat and shells for many years before they reached reproductive age. They are now protected by the international CITES convention (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), which regulates the trade of species endangered by over-exploitation.
Customs officers may detain travelers attempting to bring certain items into their home country. It is also advisable to check the government's website to see which items require special permission.
Trade in species protected under the Washington Convention is allowed only when it does not harm the conservation of these species in their natural habitat and only under the condition that the appropriate permit is issued.
Attempting to smuggle can result in a prison sentence of 3 months to 5 years.
