Authorities intercept illegal sea cucumber harvesting in Sri Lanka and India

Authorities in Sri Lanka and India have conducted separate operations to intercept the illegal harvesting and trafficking of sea cucumbers.

In Sri Lanka, the Navy apprehended three individuals off the Kudarappu coast. During the operation, naval personnel seized 673 sea cucumbers. These marine invertebrates are critical to maintaining the health of coral reef ecosystems by processing organic matter on the seabed. The suspects have been handed over to authorities for investigation.

In India, the forest department arrested two men in Vizhinjam, Thiruvananthapuram, following a tip-off. Officials recovered 1.5 kg of semi-dried sea cucumber. The suspects are believed to be middlemen involved in trafficking the species to Far Eastern markets, where they are used in traditional medicine and as a seafood delicacy. This marks the first time sea cucumbers have been seized from the South Kerala coast, with officials investigating whether the stock was poached locally or from other regions like the Gulf of Mannar.