Active Acoustic Tracking of Queen Conch

On August 26–27, 2025, The International SeaKeepers Society supported researchers from Shedd Aquarium on an expedition offshore of Fort Lauderdale aboard DISCOVERY Vessels The Dude (August 27) and DISCOVERY III (August 26). The research team conducted final fieldwork to locate and recover acoustic tags from threatened queen conch that had been monitored for over a year.

To find the tagged conch, the team used active acoustic tracking methods. A directional hydrophone mounted on an 8 ft pole was deployed from the vessel to detect signals within ~20 meters of the snails. Once in range, researchers entered the water equipped with an underwater hydrophone and waterproof headphones, allowing them to pinpoint the cryptic animals on the seafloor while snorkeling. Each conch was marked with a GPS point to record its final location before carefully removing the acoustic tag to ensure compliance with research permits.

In addition to tag recovery, the team also conducted dive surveys throughout the area to assess conch populations and explore the distribution of breeding aggregations. These efforts provide the last data points in a year-long study aimed at quantifying conch movement patterns and habitat use. The results will help refine conservation strategies for queen conch in Florida and across the Caribbean by informing marine reserve design and short-term management actions to protect this threatened species.