The Black River Conchs Lime


The Black river conch in has provided food for man through many generations and still continues to provide food for those willing to accept it. It is used as food for man and other carnivores’ e.g the ocelot and birds such as the “Crow”.

Agricultural use of pesticide, infrastructural development, drain clearing to prevent flooding,  the harvesting of oil and gas, over catching among others have impacted on their numbers. In the dry season, they breed as the water level goes down, then burrows into the mud. The females would then lay it’s eggs and they will keep it in the shell. The eggs will hatch while they are there but they will remain at a very dormant phase in a sort of hibernation. In the rainy season when the soil becomes water logged and water flows into many streams, the conchs would then enter the water.

The flood waters distribute the young conchs far and wide, it is not uncommon to see these conchs in roadside drains. The adult as well as the adults grows during the rainy season where the adults are usually caught by those pursuing them. These snail like creatures possess a strong exoskeleton which offers some protection against natural elements, but not its predators.



They are mostly caught in the rainy season, June to November and in the early dry season, December to May, before they hibernate. They are caught when sighted, or a person wades in the water with a cutlass as a metal object “feeling” for their presence. The contact with the metal and exoskeleton gives out a sound, enabling the catch.




It is prepared by removing its exoskeleton, slicing into small pieces, seasoned and scattered with lime to facilitate quick cooking.
This Trinidadian delicacy is enjoyed in a variety of ways  fried, cooked with dasheen leaves and curried.
Another fun way of bringing families together at the River banks.

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