Sea cucumber News

The demand for sea cucumber is very high in the international market. Amidst the increasing demands of sea cucumber, now its smuggling has also started. Smuggling of these sea cucumbers has started in Tamil Nadu, India. Due to the skyrocketing prices, new mafias have arisen in these areas.

Indian Coast Guard has seized 600 kg of sea cucumber from a small boat in Tamil Nadu. Over 30 gunny bags of sea cucumber were recovered. Boat along with seized sea cucumbers was brought to Mandapam.

Indian Coast Guard seized 2 tons of sea cucumber The value of the consignment was said to be around Rs. 8 crores Sea Cucumbers are an endangered marine species

Known as the ‘cleaners of the sea,’ sea cucumbers play a vital role in maintaining health of the marine ecosystem. In 2001, the Government of India included all species of sea cucumbers under Schedule-I category of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and totally banned their collection. Sea cucumbers are known to have aphrodisiac qualities and pharmacological properties.

The interception of the boat had taken place on Saturday (August 29, 2020) noon and the boat was just about 3.5 miles from the International Maritime Boundary line. The boat was intercepted off the Mandapam coast. The fishing boat along with three crew members have been brought to Tuticorin for further investigation.

The CBI has registered a case against four people on charges of smuggling endangered marine animal the Sea Cucumber. All four of the accused are residents of Kavaratti in Lakshadweep. The agency also recovered 46 live and 173 dead Sea Cucumbers from them.

The Tamil Nadu Police on Tuesday seized 500 kilograms of endangered sea cucumber from Rameswaram-Pudu road forest area.