The West Indian Crown Conch (*Melongena melongena*) is a large, robust marine gastropod native to the shallow coastal waters of the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. Recognized for its thick, spiny shell and savory meat, the crown conch is primarily harvested for food and, to a lesser extent, for its ornamental shell. The top countries engaged in crown conch fishing include Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, and Guyana, where it is an important part of local diets and small-scale fisheries. In these nations, artisanal fishers collect crown conchs from mudflats, mangroves, and estuaries, often by hand or with simple tools. While not as internationally renowned as the queen conch, the crown conch supports local economies and traditional cuisines throughout the southern Caribbean and northern South America, with sustainable management increasingly important due to localized overfishing concerns.
| Rank | Country | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico | 32 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.