Abstract

The high demand for sea cucumbers in Asian markets and the increasing need for alternative livelihoods in Belize led to the creation of a new fishery. This paper assesses the socioeconomics, population structure, distribution, and abundance of two species of sea cucumber (Isostichopus badionotus, and Holothuria mexicana). Sea cucumbers have been fished in Belizean waters for the past 20 years but legally only since 2009. It is now a popular fishery where 13% of respondents noted sea cucumber fishing as their primary fishing activity. With a Total Allowable Catch of 182,750 pounds per annum, the rush has created new markets and prices. Although fishers know very little about the sea cucumbers, they noticed a decrease in catch and the need to travel farther to fish. To assess the density, abundance and distribution, 32 randomly selected sites along the coast of Belize were surveyed in 2012. Mean length was 20.5 cm for H. mexicana and 22 cm for I. badionotus. Mean adult weight was 562 g for H. mexicana and 346 g for I. badionotus while body wall data for H. mexicana was 487 g. The largest number of individuals ranged from 170 - 300 cm for H. mexicana and 140 - 220 cm for I. badionatus. A total of 124 H. mexicana individuals and 108 I. badionatus were quantified, with mean densities of 12.9 and 1.8 ind./ha, respectively. We estimated a total stock or abundance of 6,840,159.76 individuals of H. mexicana and 1,117,978.41 individuals of I. badionotus; at 7,318970.9 pounds of H. mexicana.

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