Abstract:
Sea cucumber fishing pattern and the social and economic characteristics of sea cucumber
fisher communities in the north, north-west and north-east regions of Sri Lanka were assessed using the data
collected from November 2015 to January 2017. A total of 9 sea cucumber species is landed in these areas
using three fishing methods; diving (SCUBA and breath-hold), gleaning and surrounding nets. SCUBA
diving is the dominant fishing method and SCUBA divers do both day and night fishing reporting the highest
catch rates (CPUE ± SD in numbers/person/day) than the other fishers (p<0.05; ANOVA). Gleaning is
entirely carried out by fisherwomen in the northern region whereas 28 surrounding nets are used targeting
low-value Stichopus naso. CPUE found to be varied with respect to species, region and fishing method
(p<0.05; ANOVA). Bohadschia vitiensis made the highest percentage contribution (61.3%) to the total sea
cucumber landings during the study period. Among all fishers, SCUBA divers reported the highest average
net monthly income. Men play a dominant role in sea cucumber fishing (98%), processing (99%) and
marketing (100%). Fishermen in the age range of 25–67 yr, having only primary education mainly involved
in the sea cucumber industry. The sea cucumber value chain consists of fishers (∼2000), middlemen (12),
processors (16) and exporters (7). A significant increase in overall price development from fishers to the
exporters was reported for all 9 species (p<0.05; ANOVA). Fishers received a proportionally higher share
of the end-market price mainly for low-value Bohadschia spp. Although fishers receive disproportionately
low returns compared to other value chain players, 47.8% of fishers showed high satisfaction towards the
prices they received from buyers. However, 83.6% of fishers are not satisfied with existing management
measures. Apart from strengthening the existing management measures, this information is important to
update the regional and global sea cucumber statistics.
