Everybody can do their part and not buy or order dishes with conch, locally known as lambi. The molusk needs the time from 1 July to 31 October to breed so that the species still continues to be available locally.
The Dominican Council of Fishing and Aquaculture (Codepesca) has announced a nationwide ban on the capture and commercialization of Strombus gigas (also known as Lobatus gigas or queen conch).
The ban covers all individuals of the species at any stage of their life cycle, as well as their shells.
The scientific and common name for the banned species are:
Charonia variegate (caracol fotuto), Cassis tuberosa (Pata de Mulo), Cittarium pica (Burgao), Astraea coalata (Burgao Santa Maria).
The ban applies to the owners and managers of supermarkets, hotels, restaurants, fishery and fishermen. These should abstain from consuming, fishing, storing, purchasing or trading in the sea food from 1 July to 31 October.
Codepesca asks people to report the sale of conch via cell phone 311 or residential phone 311*. Posts on social media say that Codepesca is not known to penalize those who violate the prohibition.
Nevertheless, people can tell on those who irregularly sell the seafood to discourage the vending. It is a generalized practice for several restaurants to say they are selling frozen inventories that they have received permission to do so.
The best contribution is for every citizen or tourist to be aware and not order or consume the product during the breeding time.
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25 June 2025