Parastichopus californicus: the Giant Red Sea Cucumber, California Sea Cucumber, Hai shen
Phylum Echinodermata – Class Holothuroidea
- Sea cucumbers are echinoderms (like sea urchins). The Giant Red Sea Cucumber is found along the Pacific Coast of North America. It is the largest sea cucumber species in British Columbia, and the only commercially harvested of approximately 30 species on the west coast.
Juveniles grow to 4-10 cm by the end of their second year. Adult populations are usually larger than 15 cm in length. - This soft-bodied, bottom dweller detritivore plays an important ecological role in the benthic (animals and plants that live on or in the bottom of the ocean) food web. Detritivores are organisms that recycle decomposing organic material, returning it back into the food chain – like earthworms but for the ocean.
- Harvested sea cucumbers are split and dried, and are highly valued in Asian cooking and for Traditional Chinese Medicine. Markets are primarily southeast Asia, China, Hong Kong, and Korea. Market demand and value is primarily for the skin; the muscle tissue strips have a much lower value.
- Sea cucumbers are higher in protein than most foods.
- They are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat a number of health issues, including fatigue, impotence, and joint pain. Sea cucumber contains high levels of chondroitin sulfate, a major component of cartilage.
- Research indicates that sea cucumbers have anti-cancer, antiviral, and anti-gingivitus properties.
- Currently the BC sea cucumber fishery has 85 IQ licences and are harvested underwater by SCUBA divers. The fishery lasts about three weeks in October. Between 2003 to 2010 the average annual harvest was 1.2 million pounds, with an annual landed value of just over $1.8 million.