School of Marine Fisheries and Technology, Mindanao State University at Naawan, 9023 Naawan, Misamis Oriental, Philippines
Sea cucumber R&D Center, Mindanao State University at Naawan, 9023 Naawan, Misamis Oriental, Philippines
Corresponding author
renalyne.acosta@nfrdi.da.gov.ph
, Wilfredo H. Uy2,3
High exploitation and limited fishery data pose challenges to the sustainable sea cucumber fishery management in the Philippines. This study provides detailed documentation of sea cucumber catches and production across Barobo, Surigao del Sur, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, Olutanga, Zamboanga Sibugay, Dimataling, Zamboanga del Sur, and Bongao, Tawi-tawi. The daily catch was recorded by assigned local enumerators from December 2019 to November 2021. A total of 9 – 31 sea cucumbers were reported in the catches out of 37 commercially exploited species, with the highest number recorded in Bongao and the lowest in Barobo. The most active gatherers were observed in Olutanga and the least in Barobo (38–182). Collectors typically gather sea cucumbers 5–29 days a month, with collectors from Barobo having the most frequent days. The catch-per-unit effort (CPUE) of fresh catches peaked in Bongao at 7 kg/day, while Barobo had the lowest at 1.9 kg/day. Annual harvest production estimates from five municipalities would yield 352.31 MT of fresh sea cucumbers. Half the catches were medium-valued (51%), and only 18% were high-valued. Bohadschia marmorata consistently ranked among the top five species across all sites, while Actinopyga echinites had the highest overall catch percentage. Two species in the top catches are recorded as “vulnerable,” and one is “threatened” by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Sea cucumber fisheries in Mindanao are crucial for the livelihoods of marginalized fishers. However, the shift toward lower-valued species signals overexploitation, highlighting the urgent need for local management policies to ensure sustainability.