A quiet multimillion-dollar black market is exploding across the Indian Ocean, driven by an unlikely animal: the sea cucumber. These squishy sea blobs, despite their name, are neither cucumbers nor fish, but echinoderms—invertebrate marine animals with a skin or hard covering. The illicit trade is estimated to be worth $200 million (€175 million).

Found abundantly around the Andaman Islands, sea cucumbers play a crucial ecological role. Local biologist Sangamesh Uday emphasizes that without them, the intertidal zone would be 'just broken rocks.' They recycle organic matter, excreting clean, oxygenated sand, which maintains nutrient cycles and suppresses coral diseases, while also boosting ocean alkalinity to slow acidification.

Sea cucumbers are considered a delicacy, especially in China and Southeast Asia, where they are used in soups, pickled sides, or traditional medicine. Though they contain omega-3 with antioxidant properties, their popularity largely stems from their phallic shape, leading to their reputation as an aphrodisiac.

Since the 1980s, commercial harvesting has expanded, but many countries have banned the practice. Yet, 70% of existing fisheries are overexploited. This has attracted organized crime, including major Mexican cartels and the Japanese Yakuza, who exploit weak regulations and smuggle sea cucumbers across borders, sometimes mislabeling them as legal fish.

India introduced a blanket ban in 2001, with penalties of seven years in prison—the same as for poaching tigers or elephants. However, civil war in Myanmar has fueled poaching, with illegal fishers risking their lives to evade Indian coast guard, navy, and even crocodiles. Despite arrests, the number of poachers remains steady.

Expert Teale Phelps Bondaroff stresses the need for global awareness, similar to campaigns against shark finning. He suggests educating consumers about the harms of illegal harvesting and tackling seafood fraud. Other proposals include opening limited legal fishing zones or community-based aquaculture.

Bondaroff argues that solving the problem requires cooperation and information sharing between governments and law enforcement, as well as addressing the complex financial crimes that enable this illegal trade. The report was supported by the Pulitzer Center.

Source: www.dw.com