The Issue

Right in our own Florida coastal backyard a quiet collapse of a species is happening that directly affects the quality of our water---an animal most people never see. The horse conch. It is a little-known fact that the horse conch is Florida’s Official State Shell and one of our most iconic coastal predators measuring up to two feet in length. Yes, this marine snail is that big! Once a common sight in the 1990’s by Florida fisheries in the tens of thousands, the population sightings are now less than 100 (USF, 2022). This rate of decline in 30 years is an undeniable marker that the snail’s extinction is approaching and a reality within the next 10 years. 

Why does the decline of horse conchs matter?

If the horse conch species continues to be unprotected by Florida law, its extinction will lead to overpopulation of other snails that it vigorously eats, such as the lightning whelks, crown conchs, and banded tulips. All these beautiful shells are noticeably collected on our beaches by visitors and residents alike. One key takeaway here is this list of shell species also voraciously eat oysters and other bivalves. With the horse conch gone, our coastal oyster reefs will suffer.

Why is the snowballed effect of oyster declines important?

Oyster reefs specifically filter our coastal waters. These are where we enjoy walking the beach, swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, boating, and fishing. The decimation of oyster reefs will lead see an overabundance of phytoplankton (similar to microscopic plants) and unfortunately unfiltered, dirtier water. This creates prime conditions for more unwelcome harmful algal blooms and very poor water quality for people. This affects our recreational use of the water, the health of the ecosystem, and everything that lives there. These algal blooms and poor water quality collapse fisheries and hurt the tourism economy, making the losses from these events costly. In 2018 a harmful algal bloom occurred within Florida’s Gulf Coast causing a $2.7 billion loss in tourist-based revenue (NOAA, 2025). Can you imagine this every year?

The Solution
At a time when Florida’s water quality is already in crisis, we simply cannot afford to lose this vital keystone species. Equally, our tourism thrives on these beautiful waterways along with those that are drawn here to call these waterways home. What are we calling on our Florida leaders to do?

• Ban live-shelling of horse conchs (both recreational and commercial) 

Currently, a handful of areas such as Manatee county and Lee county ban live-shelling recreationally and individuals with a saltwater fishing license are only allowed to harvest horse conchs as a food source, not just for their shell. However, commercial entities have no restrictions, allowing individuals to illegally collect horse conchs, take them to commercial fisheries, and in return obtain a prized "trophy shell." A full state ban on horse conch live-shelling (akin to the queen conch's ban) will end this loophole and allow room for horse conch populations to recover. This will hopefully raise the horse conch's population numbers back to where they were a few decades ago.

But laws only change when voices are heard. We need yours. Protect Florida’s waters, wildlife, and human activity for the future. Sign the petition today—before one of our most important coastal guardians of Florida’s clean waters disappears forever.

References

1. NOAA. (2025, June 10). Total economic impact of 2018 red tide now estimated at $2.7B. NCCOS - National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science. https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/news/total-economic-impact-of-2018-red-tide-now-estimated-at-2-7b/
2. University of South Florida, (2022, April 6). Florida’s state shell at higher risk of extinction than previously thought. USF Newsroom. https://www.usf.edu/news/2022/floridas-state-shell-at-higher-risk-of-extinction-than-previously-thought.aspx

Additional Info

Would you like to see this incredible keystone species up close? Rookery Bay's Environmental Learning Center features a 2,300-gallon mangrove aquarium centerpiece and a 180-gallon "Estuary Encounter Touch Tank" with the horse conch and other estuary organisms on display! Click on the link below for further details. 

https://rookerybay.org/visit/environmental-learning-center/