Global sea cucumber fisheries: an update for the last decade

Abstract Sea cucumber fisheries have continued to expand during the past decade at a fast rate, despite the predictable drop during the COVID-19 period. The exploitations are now qualified as ‘serial’ and ‘contagious’. The most recent trends are shown through the analysis of Food and Agriculture Organization’s capture data, collected from different countries and territories. The mean captures per year, in fresh weight, are over 90.10 3 tonnes. The mean trade data for years 2019–2021 are given by category of commodities, which complicates the trade analysis. The imports, in quantity and value, show the usual importance of China and Hong Kong, and now of Saudi Arabia. The exports show the importance of the frozen products from Canada. The statistics from Hong Kong in quantities and values (for imports and re-exports) are analysed for the past decade. Globally, catches have increased in comparison to previous studies, with new countries and territories developing export fisheries, new species targeted from new regions, and new products traded. The continued growth and expansion of the global sea cucumber trade is alarming as the sustainability of many species-specific fisheries remains of great concern. Stronger conservation measures, and their implementation, at national, regional, and international levels, are required to effectively protect biodiversity, promote sustainable resource use, and address the escalating impacts of the increasing exploitation efforts.