Density and Biomass of Commercial Sea Cucumber Species Relative to Depth in the Northern Aegean Sea

Abstract

Distribution and biomass of Holothuria tubulosa, Holothuria polii and Holothuria mammata in the Northern Aegean Sea were investigated in various depths (5 m, 10 m, and 15 m). Samples were collected by SCUBA or hookah diving systems from eleven stations, covering 2100 m2 area. Number of 5500, 3771 and 2742 were sampled at 5, 10 and 15 m depth, respectively. The gutted weight and length of the samples collected from 5, 10 and 15 m depth were 47.97 g and 11.00 cm, 61.99 g and 12.38 cm, and 63.41 g and 12.28 cm, respectively. The sea cucumber biomass and density were calculated as 125.65 g/m2 and 2.62 individuals/m2 at 5 m depth, 111.35 g/m2 and 1.8 individuals/m2 at 10 m depth, and 82.8 g/m2 and 1.31 individuals/m2 at 15 m depth. It was concluded that the mean weight of the studied commercial sea cucumber species increases by depth.