Coast guard apprehends boat illegally carrying Rs 5 crore worth of endangered sea cucumber

Indian Coast Guard Ship and Aircraft apprehended a fishing boat carrying approximately 1000 Kgs of Sea Cucumbers, an endangered and protected species, worth over Rs 5 Crores in International Market.

Tamil Nadu:In a swift sea-air coordinated mid-sea operation an Indian Coast Guard Ship and Aircraft apprehended a fishing boat at about 1200 h on 29 Aug 2020, carrying approximately 1000 Kgs of Sea Cucumbers, an endangered and protected species, worth over Rs 5 Crores in International Market.

The package was intended to be smuggled into Sri Lanka.

The fishing boat along with three crew have been apprehended and brought to Tuticorin for further investigation.

Sea cucumbers are an important constituent of the coral ecosystem and are categorised as an ‘endangered species’ with their harvest being banned under the Wildlife Protection Act of 2001.

They play an important role in maintaining the health of marine ecosystems. By excreting inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus, they enhance the productivity of benthic animals - those living on the ocean floor. One of the by-products of the sea cucumber's digestion of sand is calcium carbonate, a key component of coral reef.

To survive, coral reefs must accumulate calcium carbonate, and thus sea cucumbers play a vital role in their preservation.

Sea cucumbers also maintain the transparency of seawater by eating sewage. Feeding and excretion by sea cucumbers also increase alkalinity, which counteracts ocean acidification. Illegal harvesting and overexploitation of these animals leads to poorer sediment health, reduces nutrient recycling and impacts biodiversity.

Much of the sea cucumbers smuggled out of Tamil Nadu goes to Sri Lanka and other South-Eastern Asian countries, where they are consumed as food and used to prepare medicines.

The successful operation reiterates the Indian Coast Guard’s resolve for ensuring safe seas in the region through extensive surveillance for monitoring suspicious activities at Sea.