Chapter 51 - Future prospects for sea cucumber mariculture in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands

Abstract

Interest in sea cucumber mariculture in the Pacific Islands region is growing due to the serial depletion of wild populations. Hatchery-produced or wild-collected juvenile or subadult sea cucumbers of several species can be used in mariculture applications, including sea-pen farming in the ocean, sea ranching in unenclosed marine areas, stocking into no-take-zones, enhancing existing wild stocks, pond culture, and co-culture of sea cucumbers with other species. The sea cucumber Holothuria scabra (sandfish) is the prime mariculture candidate throughout its tropical Indo-Pacific range due to its high commercial value and positive culture attributes. This chapter reviews research into social and technical factors affecting the development and implementation of community-based sea cucumber mariculture. The challenges faced and factors leading to the success of community-based mariculture of H. scabra in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and other global efforts are highlighted and extended to other species, approaches, and regions in order to emphasize common pitfalls and to guide best practices. In particular, a community sea ranching model investigated in PNG is compared to other sea cucumber mariculture applications. Based on research outcomes from PNG, a set of draft guidelines are proposed to maximize the chances of success. Several other key considerations are discussed, including the development of a socially and culturally informed Community Mariculture Plan. It is hoped that the suggested guidelines can help sea cucumber mariculture reach its full potential as a livelihood activity in PNG and other countries and territories in the Pacific Islands region.