India:  Sea cucumbers were a big source of income on the coast. "Not even 10% of the smuggled sea cucumbers are seized," said a marine police official.Till July 2001, thousands of traditional fishermen used to catch sea cucumbers by skin diving and sell them to local traders. These sea cucumbers are caught in bulk and smuggled to neighbouring countries from the diversity-rich Gulf of Mannar seas, where they fetch a good price. There has been a spurt in seizure of sea cu cumbers - protected species that are poached for their high-value in far-east - in Tuticorin and Ramanathapuram districts. Poaching them is punishable under Wildlife Protection Act and they are keeping a close watch for smugglers, he said.

There has been a spurt in seizure of sea cu cumbers - protected species that are poached for their high-value in far-east - in Tuticorin and Ramanathapuram districts. These sea cucumbers are caught in bulk and smuggled to neighbouring countries from the diversity-rich Gulf of Mannar seas, where they fetch a good price. Officials say the seizures are just a tip of the ice-berg."Not even 10% of the smuggled sea cucumbers are seized," said a marine police official.Till July 2001, thousands of traditional fishermen used to catch sea cucumbers by skin diving and sell them to local traders.

Sea cucumbers were a big source of income on the coast. "After the ban, the trade shifted from fishermen to smugglers who control the business," the official said.Wildlife warden of Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, Deepak Bilgi said that indiscriminate poaching of marine species like sea cucumber and seahorse forced the central government to include them in Schedule I. Poaching them is punishable under Wildlife Protection Act and they are keeping a close watch for smugglers, he said.

(Source: NYOOOZ)