Context Recently, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has seized two tonnes of sea cucumber, a banned marine species, in the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay areas in Tamil Nadu.
What is Sea Cucumber?
Sea cucumbers are marine invertebrates that live on the seafloor found generally in tropical regions.
They’re named for their unusual oblong shape that resembles a fat cucumber.
Significance:
They are crucial to maintain the balance of ocean habitats.
The main by-products of the sea cucumbers digestion of sand is calcium carbonate and this is essential for the survival of the coral reefs.
They act like garbage collectors of the ocean world, and they recycle nutrients
Threats: Illegal Trading and smuggling
Protection:
IUCN Red List: Brown Sea Cucumber (Endangered), Blackspotted Sea Cucumber (Least Concern), Blue Sea Cucumber (Data Deficient), etc.
Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I.
Conservation Efforts: In 2020, the Lakshadweep Islands administration created the world’s first conservation area – 239 sq. km – for sea cucumbers
