COPS: Man had protected Queen Conchs

Conchs were returned to water

Courtesy: FWC

KEY WEST, Fla. – A man was busted, while allegedly trying to take protected Queen Conchs from the waters off the Florida Keys.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission officers said they stopped Daniel Soviero, 18, on Higgs Beach in Key West on Thursday.

The officers said Soviero, who is from Jupiter, had five Queen Conchs in his dive bag. The Queen Conchs were still alive with the animals inside the shells.

When questioned, Soviero told the officers that he wanted to show his friends what a Queen Conch looked like.

Soviero was cited and the conchs were returned to the water