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FAU study will test commercial viability of queen conch aquaculture

Responsible Seafood Advocate

FAU launches a 12-month study to assess the commercial and environmental viability of queen conch aquaculture in The Bahamas

queen conch aquaculture
A 12-month FAU study in The Bahamas will assess market potential, farm design and environmental benefits of scalable queen conch aquaculture. Photo credit: FAU Queen Conch Lab.

FAU’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, through its Queen Conch Lab, has launched a 12-month feasibility study to evaluate the commercial and environmental potential of queen conch aquaculture in The Bahamas and other Caribbean regions.

Funded by Blue Carbon Plus (BC+), the study will assess hatchery and grow-out systems, evaluate market demand for fresh and value-added products and examine whether scalable farming can support both animal welfare and long-term economic viability.

“At Blue Carbon Plus, we are focused on advancing solutions that align commercial success with measurable environmental benefits,” said Christine McClung, BC+ program director. “This project brings together science, industry expertise and local partnerships to explore how aquaculture can generate durable market opportunities while strengthening marine ecosystems and supporting coastal communities in The Bahamas and beyond.”

FAU’s Queen Conch Lab and ISSF’s Jelly-FAD win the 2025 Responsible Seafood Innovation Awards

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FAU has engaged the Tidepoint Group to lead the project’s market assessment and partnered with Innovasea to evaluate the development of a commercial queen conch facility. In November 2025, project partners conducted a joint site visit to Grand Bahama, meeting with local stakeholders and aligning research, market and environmental priorities at the Grand Bahama Queen Conch Mariculture Center.

“This feasibility study represents a critical step toward transforming decades of conch aquaculture research into a viable, scalable industry that benefits both people and the environment,” said Megan Davis, Ph.D., a research professor at FAU Harbor Branch and director of the Queen Conch Lab. “By integrating rigorous science with thoughtful farm design and market analysis, we’re working to ensure that queen conch aquaculture can support economic development while actively restoring the seagrass ecosystems this species depends on.”

FAU Harbor Branch’s Queen Conch Lab, which received the 2025 Responsible Seafood Innovation Award in aquaculture, has been recognized for its work in queen conch aquaculture, restoration and education. Building on its network of mobile hatchery labs deployed across the Caribbean, the study is expected to generate data to guide future investment in sustainable queen conch farming and seagrass conservation.

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