According to a new FAO report, sea cucumber stocks are under intense fishing pressure throughout the world.
Most high value commercial species have been depleted. In a majority of countries reviewed and in the African and Indian Ocean regions, stocks are overfished. Likewise in the Asian Pacific region the most sought-after species are largely depleted.
"The fast pace of development of sea cucumber fisheries to supply growing international demand is placing most fisheries and many sea cucumber species at risk," according to the study 'Sea Cucumbers: a global review of fisheries and trade'.
Sea cucumber management plans specific to local circumstances need to be developed, it says. These could include such measures as establishing catch quotas and minimum size limits, closures during breeding seasons, and better monitoring of the status of stocks.
Sea cucumbers make a substantial contribution to the economies of coastal communities, being in some places the most economically important fishery and non-finfish export — highlighting the need to improve management and fishing practices.
But effective management plans for sea cucumber fisheries are uncommon, making it difficult to limit overfishing, FAO's report says.
It also identifies additional threats for sea cucumber populations worldwide, including global warming, habitat destruction, and illegal fishing.
Asia and the Pacific are the top sea cucumber producing regions, with total regional production running between 20,000 and 40,000 tonnes per year. However, Ecuador's Galapagos Islands, the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean, and Newfoundland in Canada are also hotspots for production.
