Abstract
Market preferences of natural resources contribute to shape their exploitation and production. Beche-de-mer, the product after gutting, cooking, salting and drying sea cucumbers, is exported worldwide to Asian dried seafood markets. A better understanding of the trade, value and market preferences of Pacific island beche-de-mer could identify critical postharvest processing techniques and management strategies for fisheries and aquaculture. Data were collected on export prices and trade of beche-de-mer from Kiribati, Fiji, Tonga and New Caledonia, and the selling prices, respective sizes and organoleptic properties of the products in stores in China. Export prices varied considerably within and among the four countries and low-value species were the most exported by volume. Most of the beche-de-mer from the four Pacific islands is exported to Hong Kong, where quality products are sold and others are distributed to mainland China. Prices of the beche-de-mer in Chinese stores varied up to ten-fold and were mostly influenced by species, body size and, to a lesser extent, physical damage to the products. Market prices across species (averaging US$15–385 kg−1) appear to have mostly increased six- to twelve-fold over the past decade. The data allude that fisheries for Holothuria scabra, H. lessoni, H. fuscogilva, H. whitmaei and Thelenota ananas should be most carefully managed because they were the highest-value species and under greatest demand. The relationships between size of beche-de-mer and sale price were species specific and highly varied. This study also highlights the need for better regulations and/or enforcement of minimum size limits in sea cucumber fisheries, which can help to maximise economic benefits of wild stocks.
Highlights
Exploitation and Trade of Sea Cucumbers The market for luxury seafood commodities in Asia, such as shark fin and sea cucumbers, strongly affects exploitation of wild stocks at a global scale [1,2]
Exports and Trade from Pacific Islands Data were collected from commercial sea cucumber exporters in Tonga (2011; n = 9), Fiji (2011; n = 3), Kiribati (2011; n = 6) and New Caledonia (2007; n = 3) using structured questionnaire-based interviews
The exporters were asked about export prices, import destinations of their exports, species most exported by volume, species of first choice for buying, and problems encountered with the quality of sea cucumbers bought from fishers
Summary
Exploitation and Trade of Sea Cucumbers The market for luxury seafood commodities in Asia, such as shark fin and sea cucumbers, strongly affects exploitation of wild stocks at a global scale [1,2]. With fisheries worldwide expanding to lower trophic-order species [3] and the market pressures of mounting affluence [2] and seafood consumption in China [4], sea cucumbers have attracted much interest in export-oriented fisheries in at least 70 countries [5]. Sea cucumbers have been fished for more than 170 years from Pacific islands [6], where at least 20 species are commonly harvested [7,8]. Recent exploitation in many Pacific islands has been intense, leading to depletion of stocks and closure of fisheries [7,9,10]. The only Pacific island fisheries currently open to export-oriented fishing are Fiji, Tonga, Kiribati, New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Vanuatu (recently re-opened) [9]. Aquaculture of tropical sea cucumbers has been expanding rapidly. Profitability is predicated on harvesting the animals at a size to give optimal economic yield relative to grow-out costs [11]
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