But while fishermen feel the stock is sustainable for the rest of the season- they also. Lament new and inexperienced fishers who catch conch that are too young. Today the Supervisor of the Enforcement Unit at the Fisheries Department says they're taking steps to educate young fishers. He also added that, as more fishers become aware of the importance of sustainable fishing, the less they fish illegally.

Hampton Gamboa, Supervisor, Enforcement Unit, Fisheries Dept.
"What we are planning to do in the near future and actually we're in the process of doing revisions to some of our SI's and our regulations before this year is over so in terms of licensing I know we are about to embark on a first time or new fisherfolk entering into the industry for them to do an apprentice program whereby they come in and they will, as first timers, they will go through a training identifying the different fisheries regulations, the different fisheries laws and so on for them to be abreast with it so that they know and we go through some practical sessions with them in weighing of conchs, lobsters, measuring so they have previous knowledge before they're actually given an actual license for them to go out and work in the industry."

Courtney Menzies:
"We know that the night before a season opens, whether lobster or conch, you guys go out in full force because a lot of fishers are out there trying to come up before everybody else, did you encounter any boats out there fishing illegally?"

Hampton Gamboa, Supervisor, Enforcement Unit, Fisheries Dept.
"I must say we jut came back from Lighthouse Reef and over the past two days from Saturday, we went out there from about Thursday, Thursday, Friday there were no boats on the entire atoll until about Saturday midday a couple of boats came over so we did some checks of these vessels, ensure everybody have their licenses for the appropriate areas, they're vessels have is for that area and has all the color coding and so on so people are complying and for the past three days even up to last night we have been checking every vessel that comes on the island and the same thing we were doing at Lighthouse we were doing in Glover's and Turneffe doing the same thing as well we had a team leave Belize City and went as far south as in front of Placencia ensuring that people who coming out have the appropriate license and for the appropriate area."

"So far at least over the past week where I've been working in the area some of the fishers are actually like, Mr Gamboa, we have to try and take care of what we have because yes cost of living is going up and the stocks they have to ensure that they do their part. Most of the captains of those vessels, they echo the same sentiments."

The conch season will remain open until June 30, 2025.