Solar‑Powered Mobile Hatcheries Aim to Restore Declining Queen Conch Populations in the Caribbean

Queen conch (Aliger gigas) once thrived in Caribbean waters, but overharvesting, habitat loss, pollution and warming seas have driven many populations to collapse. Despite a 1992 CITES Appendix II listing, seasonal restrictions, national bans, and a 2024 U. S. Endangered Species Act designation, few conch reach adulthood. To counter this trend, the Queen Conch Lab (QCL) of Florida Atlantic University has deployed solar‑powered mobile hatcheries that shelter juveniles during their vulnerable early life stages. The hatcheries serve as nurseries and community learning hubs, allowing students and local visitors to observe the species’ life cycle and participate in restoration. By boosting survival to reproductive age, the project seeks to slow the species’ decline and strengthen regional conservation efforts.