Feds decline protections for edible snail

Federal regulators are denying requests from environmental groups to protect an edible sea snail.
 
In its response released Tuesday, the National Marine Fisheries Service said the queen conch species does not need to be listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
 
The soft-bodied animal, which lives in shallow waters on coral reefs or sea grass beds, is consumed throughout the Caribbean, and its shells are sold to tourists. 
 
Their slow growth, however, makes the snails susceptible to over-fishing. Last February, WildEarth Guardians filed a petition seeking protections for the conch.

The group argued that the water pollution, specifically high concentrations of zinc and copper, also causes reproductive failure.
 
Although the global population has likely declined from historical numbers, the National Marine Fisheries Service said the queen conch is still found throughout a broad geographic range.
 
 “There is little evidence to suggest that disease or predation is contributing to increasing the risk of extinction of the species,” the agency’s response said.