Sea cucumbers are common. From nearshore shallow waters down to the depths of the deepest trenches B次元官网网址� they inhabit nearly every corner of the planetB次元官网网址檚 oceans. Yet, soaring demand has created a multi-million dollar black market for the lucrative blobs, according to one Saanich researcher.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff, director of research for marine conservation organization OceansAsia and an expert on illegal fishing and marine wildlife crime, was in the spotlight following the premiere of a new Undercover Asia documentary Sunday (July 31) featuring his research.
The documentary is part of an investigative journalism series aired on the Singaporean public television station Channel B次元官网网址 Asia. Pirates of the Seabed highlights Phelps BondaroffB次元官网网址檚 investigation of the poaching and smuggling hotspot in the Gulf of Mannar between India and Sri Lanka.
Through interviews and undercover work, the Saanich resident explores the murky world of criminal gangs and follows the supply chain all the way to Hong Kong, where illegally-harvested sea cucumbers are eaten as a prized delicacy and used in traditional Chinese medicine.
B次元官网网址淲hatB次元官网网址檚 really interesting as a conservationist is seeing organized crime groups trying to diversify and enter this industry.B次元官网网址�
Phelps Bondaroff identified and analyzed 120 incidents of smuggling and poaching between 2015 and 2020. During that period Indian and Sri Lankan authorities reported seizing over 64.7 tons of sea cucumbers with an estimated value of U.S. $2.84 million.
Unlike illegal shark fin, fish maw or abalone harvesting, sea cucumber poaching is one of the lesser-known B次元官网网址� and consequentially more neglected B次元官网网址� forms of wildlife crime. But that doesnB次元官网网址檛 mean it canB次元官网网址檛 lead to some detrimental impacts that threaten marine ecosystems and species worldwide, Phelps Bondaroff warned.
B次元官网网址淪ea cucumbers play a critical role in marine ecosystems, acting like earthworms of the sea by cycling material in the seabed and playing an important role in nutrient cycling. Sea cucumber crime threatens species and ecosystems, but it also undermines good governance and steals from legal fishers and governments.B次元官网网址�
He ultimately hopes the documentary can place more pressure on government authorities to step up protective measures and perhaps more importantly, increase public awareness. And while thereB次元官网网址檚 little evidence of sea cucumber-related crime occuring in British Columbia, Phelps Bondaroff said itB次元官网网址檚 a critical reminder of the work necessary to protect species that inhabit our waters back home.
B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 protect what you donB次元官网网址檛 know.B次元官网网址�
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