Conch Shell Graveyard

A lot of people enjoyed their taste of lobster in June here on La Isla Bonita. Now October is here and San Pedro is ready for Conch Season. Many Sanpedranos headed to sea early in the morning to catch this delicious animal. But before I state more on Conch Season, I have researched brief information on the beautiful Queen Conch Shell.

Strombus gigas is a marine snail more commonly known as the queen conch. It is also known as the pink conch, lambi, botuto, or guarura. The queen conch is a strong-shelled species, also having a smooth shell with a row of nodes at the shoulder of a whorl. The shell can be white, tan, or cream colored in appearance. The shell’s aperture is long and narrow, and its coloration is generally rose pink. This coloration is sometimes yellow or light orange in some specimens. It is a large snail, with its shell growing to lengths up to three hundred millimeters or twelve inches. Like other snails it is soft bodied, consisting of a black-speckled foot, a snout-like proboscis, a pair of tentacles, and two eyestalks topped with distinctive, colorful yellow eyes.

Many fishermen have been scouting for conch for many years just to make a few bucks by selling it to the local restaurants or to any walk-in customers. Conch is very popular here on the island, not only because of its delicious taste, but also because of its amazing shell. Its beautiful shell is used to make many beautiful and useful products such as bracelets, necklaces, pendants, earrings and even decorative lamps. Sanpedranos tell me that conch was used in the foundation and ground slab in concrete construction and I am also told that when heated the end product is limestone – good for boiling corn, painting walls and marking sports fields (very cool!).

Restaurants on the island are on their peak of happiness when conch season comes around because they can add a final delight to their menu to offer to their customers. Some of the many popular finger licking dishes are conch fritters, chowder, soup and of course ceviche (yum!). Conch Ceviche indeed is the most searched dish on the island, it’s easy to prepare and very appetizing. Therefore, book your trip to San Pedro, La Isla Bonita and fall in love with the island, people, food, sea beauty and more. Thats What’s Up Today

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Comments

Gerry October 28, 2011 - 09:37

Hey there, the price per pound of clean Conch is $10bz...If you head infront of Mojito's Bar Beachside you can meet with two Sanpedrano Fishermen by the Name of Nona and Antonio and they would gladly sell you some Conch

October 13, 2011 - 11:27

Can you inform the public what is the price per pound of clean conch meat and where one can purchase them? Can you give a telephone of Mr. Badillo Sr, of course to place orders? Gracias.