Sea Cucumber Biology
Sea cucumbers are echinoderms, and are related to starfish and sea urchins. There are more than 1000 species of sea cucumbers in the world, but only around 20 species are commercially important in the Pacific.
The mouth of sea cucumber is surrounded by tentacles, which creates a distinct digestive system. Their diet mainly consists of decaying organic matter, bacteria through great quantities of sand. They clean sediments, and recycle nutrients which are necessary to marine organisms and ecosystems. The reef species feed on the fine layer of sediment or algae on reef surfaces. Some sea cucumbers burrow in sand at certain times of the day, while others hide in reef crevices. A few species release white "cuvierian" tubules (sticky filaments) when disturbed, as a defensive response.
Sea cucumbers mainly reproduce sexually, with males releasing sperm and females releasing eggs at the same time into water column. Once fertilised, the eggs hatch into planktonic larvae and attach themselves to the bottom and change (metamorphose) into young sea cucumbers. To ensure successful reproduction, males and females need to be presented in high numbers in the same area. If overfishing occurs and remaining individuals are too far apart, eggs and sperm may never mix. Recovery of depleted stocks may take several years to decades.
Many sea cucumbers have long life with a late maturity. Setting size limits to avoid harvesting juveniles until they are large enough to breed (for many species, this is around 500g in live weight) will help to protect stocks.
Blackfish
Depth range: 1-18 m
Description: Australian Wild Blackfish Cucumber comes from deep water in Australia. Growing in deep water and low temperatures environment promotes them growing longer. Its nutritional value is very high, known as 'king of refs'. Its taste is smooth, soft and delicious with infinite aftertaste. As studies shown, Blackfish has high protein and low fate, and doesn't contain cholesterol.
Golden Sand Fish
Habitat: Inner reef flats of coastal lagoons; burrows in mud and sandy-muddy bottoms. Generally deeper than sandfish.
Depth range: 0-30 m
Length commonly to: 30 cm
Average weight: 1.1 kg
Body thickness: 7 mm
Processed appearance:
- Cylindrical shape with an arched upperside and a flat underside
- Upperside brown with numerous tiny black spots
- Underside smooth, amber-brown
- No cuts or small cut across mouth
- Common size: 12-16 cm
Prickly Red
Habitat: Reef slopes and near passes, on hard bottoms with large rubble and coral patches.
Depth range: 0-25 m
Length commonly to: 45 cm
Average weight: 2.5 kg
Body thickness: 15 mm
Processed appearance:
- Long shape with squarish cross-section
- Upper-side covered with spikes, brown to black-brown
- Under-side granular, lighter brown
- Small cut across mouth, or one single long cut in the under-side of large specimens
- Common size: 20-25 cm
Curry fish
Habitat: Seagrass, rubble and sandy-muddy bottoms
Depth range: 0-25 m
Length commonly to: 35 cm
Average weight: 1.0 kg
Body thickness: 8 mm
Processed appearance:
- Long shape with a rectangular cross-section
- Upper-side wrinkled or deeply ridged with small black bumps
- Under-side smoother
- Entire body different shades of beige to brown
- Common size: 15-19 cm
White teat
Habitat: Oceanic influenced lagoons and passes
Depth range: 1-40 m, but mostly in 20 m
Length commonly to: 42 cm
Average weight: 2.4 kg
Body thickness: 12 mm
Processed appearance:
- Flat and chunky shape with obvious teats along each side
- Surface smooth to slightly wrinkled and powdery
- Entire body different shades of grey-brown
- One single long straight cut in the upper side
- Common size: 18-24 cm
Brown sandfish
Habitat: Coastal lagoons and inner reef flats, often burrowed in sandy-muddy bottoms
Depth range: 1-20 m, but mostly in 0-10 m
Length commonly to: 32 cm
Average weight: 1.2 kg
Body thickness: 7 mm
Processed appearance:
- Cylindrical shape with an arched upper-side and a flat underside
- Upper-side slightly wrinkled, brown to brown-black
- No cuts or small cut across mouth
- Common size: 14-18 cm
