A Bioeconomic Approach for Sea Cucumber Mariculture in the Caribbean

Ricardo Anthony Morris

Caribbean Aquaculture Education and Innovation Hub

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ABSTRACT

The downturn of the lucrative multi-species sea cucumber trade in the Asian market has in the last decade led to an increase in fishing pressure in other regions where the fishery previously did not exist. This has led to an increased threat of unsustainable fishing, overexploitation of stocks, loss of biodiversity, negative ecological impacts, and the destabilization of sensitive ecosystems and coastal communities targeting these species. All these impacts have been realized in the Latin America and Caribbean region including Jamaica, whose management has been slow or unresponsive in adapting to the sudden demand for the species. On the other hand, this demand and high prices for the species present several opportunities including for aquaculture and mariculture which can provide economic benefits, supplement already overexploited fisheries, and contribute to the restoration and resilience of coastal ecosystems to climate change impacts. A bioeconomic approach to investigation and then implementation of sea cucumber mariculture can provide an inefficient means of optimizing ocean space, inputs (costs), economic benefit, and ecological contribution. This is given that space and cost are major limitations to aquaculture and mariculture development in small island states like those in the Caribbean. The approach involves an initial experimental mariculture phase where wild seeds (juveniles) are collected and kept in identical enclosures on the seabed in different densities and habitat conditions. Over time, biological indicators such as ambient conditions, mortality, and growth, are monitored along with applicable costs which could include feed, security, lease arrangements, etc. Following this monitoring period, a bioeconomic assessment is conducted to determine the optimum harvest time and harvest size for the targeted market along with the different density habitat conditions. The results are expected to provide critical management and policy development information, with the potential for being scaled up, about the viability of sea cucumber mariculture as a business in conditions specific to the Caribbean.

HOW TO CITE: Morris, R.A., 2026.A Bioeconomic Approach for Sea Cucumber Mariculture in the Caribbean. Contribution 5.1, p330 IN CRFM, 2026. Volume I: Technical Papers. Presented at the CRFM 20th Anniversary Scientific Conference, 28-31 August 2023. CRFM Special Publication No. 37, CRFM Secretariat https://www.crfm.int/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=925

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Commercial Sea Cucumber Stock Assessment to Determine Sustainable Quotas in Belize

Kenneth Esquivel¹, Arlenie Rogers², Abigail Quiroz¹, Victor Alamina¹, Marsha Vargas¹, Fernando Esquivel¹, Eli Montejo¹, Jonathan Loria¹.

Belize Fisheries Department,¹Princess Margaret Drive, Belize City, Belize;

Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Belize,²Belmopan City, Belize;

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ABSTRACT

The sea cucumber fishery in Belize is small-scale. Sea cucumbers have been legally harvested since the fishery opened in 2009. Then, the Belize Fisheries Department granted a limited number of sea cucumber fishing licenses and permits to sea cucumber exporters. In 2016, new management interventions were made, including size limits, gutted weight, hours of landing, and managed access requirements for sea cucumber fishing. In 2022 regulation amendments included protecting the sea cucumber spawning months, increased size limits, and designated landing sites to be determined by the Fisheries Administrator. In 2022, the fishery didn’t open pending a stock assessment completed under this project. The Belize Fisheries Department and the University of Belize conducted the sea cucumber stock assessment in March 2023 in fishing areas 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, where sea cucumbers are more abundant. In each area, sampling stations were selected using stratified random sampling based on fishery-dependent habitat selection. Twenty-two sampling stations (81 transects) measuring 100 m x 4 m (400 m2) were surveyed. Transects were run perpendicular to the coast to capture depth and habitat contour. Data collected included species, their morphometric measurements, habitat types and depths. Species found were Holothuria floridana, H. mexicana, Isostichopus badionotus, H. thomasi, and H. grisea sea cucumbers. The most abundant were H. floridana and H. mexicana, followed by I. badionotus. Both H. floridana & H. mexicana, and I. badionotus were most abundant in the Placencia lagoon and islands in front of Placencia. The total abundance for H. floridana & H. mexicana was 1,996, 938.22 (biomass 1,249 US tons) and for I. badionotus, 47,110.6 kg (biomass 51.9 US tons). Using mortality rates for both species as per the scientific literature, the Schaefer Model provided an MSY of 143,799.56 kg for H. floridana and H. mexicana and 43,834.42 kg for I. badionotus. Therefore, the quota (75% - MSY) was established to be 134,922.73 kg for H. floridana & H. mexicana and 34,704.67 for I. badionotus.

HOW TO CITE: Esquivel, K., A. Rogers, A. Quiroz, V. Alamina, M. Vargas, F. Esquivel, E. Montejo, and J. Loria, 2026. Commercial Sea Cucumber Stock Assessment to Determine Sustainable Quotas in Belize. Contribution 3.5, p149-159 IN CRFM, 2026. Volume I: Technical Papers. Presented at the CRFM 20th Anniversary Scientific Conference, 28-31 August 2023. CRFM Special Publication No. 37, CRFM Secretariat https://www.crfm.int/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=910