Last August, the Curaçao Sea Aquarium, the Queen Conch Hatchery (a breeding facility for sea snails), and the Corendon Mangrove Beach Resort joined forces to launch a unique pilot project for the reintroduction of the Queen Conch (Lobatus gigas), locally known as karkó, in the bay of Corendon Mangrove.

The Queen Conch is a large sea snail with a beautiful shell that plays an important role in the reef ecosystem, but the species is currently threatened with extinction. The meat of the karkó, as it is called on the ABC Islands, is considered a delicacy. Since it takes about five years for the Queen Conch to reach sexual maturity and begin reproducing, it is essential that the animal is protected during this period so it can grow safely.

As part of this project, twenty sea snails (ten male and ten female) were released in August into the underwater rocky area near Corendon Mangrove Bay. Preliminary research showed that this area provides an excellent feeding ground and habitat for the sea snails. In fact, specimens had previously been observed in the area that appeared to have naturally settled there.

The aim of the pilot project is to investigate whether the released conchs can live and reproduce undisturbed in this location.

This is an important project that Corendon Hotels & Resorts is proud to be part of. Sustainability and the protection of nature in Curaçao are among our top priorities. Together with partners such as the Curaçao Sea Aquarium, the Queen Conch Hatchery, and with the support of Dive Division Curaçao, we have established a wonderful collaboration.

According to the scientists involved, the prospects are very promising. They will closely monitor the development and progress of the population through regular underwater research and weekly observations during the breeding season of the karkó, which runs from July to November.

The karkó is a large sea snail from the Strombidae family. The species is common throughout the Caribbean but increasingly threatened by overfishing and habitat loss. With this initiative, the participating organizations aim to contribute to the restoration and protection of this iconic species.

The photos show the moment the karkós were released. Tourists were eager to assist the scientists and team members in introducing the sea snails into their new environment.