Shell collector, Jack Lightbourn has recently received the Neptunea Award for his service of the scientific interests of Conchologists of America.

At a convention in May in Fort Lauderdale Mr. Lightbourn was honoured to receive the prestigious award given to only two members each year.

He said it was particularly special because he is an overseas member in a predominantly American organisation.

Mr. Lightbourn was selected as the recipient of this years award in light of his exhibition at the Bermuda Underwater Institute and his impressive contribution to shell records particularly in Bermuda.

Mr. Lightbourn explained that BUEI seemed like the obvious place for his collection to be displayed and that they were delighted to accept the collection of 1,200 shells which includes 1,000 different species.

Mr. Lightbourn and his late friend and fellow shell collector Arthur Guest, have contributed some 300 species to the Bermuda listing, ten of which were new to science.

When Mr. Guest passed away he left his entire collection to Mr. Lightbourn. Much of their collective collection was donated to the Bermuda Zoological Society.

Between the two men they had the largest collection of shells ever assembled in Bermuda and Mr. Lightbourn mentioned that the collection is used by the Zoological Society as a reference collection, because it is almost double the size of their previous collections.

Mr. Lightbourn explained how he started collecting: "My interest in shells started at six years of age when I went collecting with my grandfather.

"In those days you could collect and sell shells, which is no longer permissible. When I was 11 I joined the Sea Scouts and a few of us became interested and started to collect. I just kept on going."

Mr. Lightbourn eventually developed an impressive collection of 5,000 different shells. They have been collected in the deep waters surrounding Bermuda and around the world.

Mr. Lightbourn collected most of his specimens through potting and dredging. Mr. Lightbourn is favourable to potting, which involves placing specially designed baited traps at depths as great as 1,500 feet.

The traps have entrances and exits in order not to catch other fish and Mr. Lightbourn does not collect live species, simply the shells the animals leave behind.

For collecting micro shells, the interest of his friend Mr. Guest they used dredging which is shallower at 300-500 feet. "We were so successful because nobody else in Bermuda had ever done it before," said Mr. Lightbourn.

Conchologists of America is an organisation with 1,200 members with 18 different countries represented although the majority are from the United States.

Members include shell collectors and professionals in malacology, which is the study of mollusks, an area which includes all sea shells.

Mr. Lightbourn has been a member of COA for 25 years. "The advantage of being a member is that the amateurs can learn from the professionals," said Mr. Lightbourn.

Every year conventions are held in different places around the US although Mr. Lightbourn explained that most take place in Florida as that is where many of the collectors in the US reside.

Mr. Lightbourn's shells can be seen at BUEI, The Bermuda Aquarium and Zoo and on 20 of Bermuda's stamps.