AMSTERDAM – Transporting meat from the pink conch, locally known on Curaçao as karkó, to the Netherlands without a permit is a criminal offense. This follows a ruling by the Gerechtshof Amsterdam, which convicted a man for importing nearly 2.6 kilograms of karkó from Curaçao into the Netherlands via Schiphol Airport.
The case concerns an incident in June 2022, when the suspect was found to be carrying karkó meat in his luggage upon arrival at Schiphol. The pink conch is a protected species under international nature conservation regulations. Importing its meat into the European Union requires a special permit, which the man did not possess.
According to the court, it was established beyond doubt that the meat originated from the pink conch, scientifically known as Strombus gigas. Although the defendant stated that he was unaware that transporting karkó was prohibited, the court ruled that this did not exempt him from responsibility. However, the court did acquit him of intent, as it could not be proven that he knew the meat came from a protected species.
Ultimately, the man was sentenced to a fine of 200 euros, half of which was imposed conditionally. In addition, the karkó meat was confiscated and not returned. In its ruling, the court emphasized that strict regulations on the trade in protected species are designed to prevent overexploitation and to safeguard the survival of vulnerable animal populations.
On Curaçao, karkó is traditionally a popular and culturally embedded dish, but its harvesting and trade have been under pressure for years due to conservation measures. The ruling highlights that products considered customary or culturally significant at a local level may fall under strict international regulations, with criminal consequences if those rules are violated.