Sea cucumber fisheries : a manager's toolbox

Abstract

Fishers have changed their methods from wading in the shallows to the use of sail and paddle canoes, and dinghies with outboard motors. This has resulted in greater coverage of the area where sea cucumbers live, more regular fishing, access to remote areas and the capacity to transport greater catches. Loss of much larger numbers of sea cucumbers from many areas as a result of this increased fishing pressure reduces the chances of adults remaining at densities high enough for effective reproduction. When sea cucumbers are 'thinned out' by over-fishing, they are not always able to find mates to breed with during the spawning season.