A remarkable finding of a sea cucumber nursery with billions of juvenile sea cucumbers near Sanikiluaq, Nunavut, is providing valuable insights into the species and potentially paving the way for economic opportunities in the Arctic community.
Lucassie Arragutainaq, the head of the Sanikiluaq Hunters and Trappers Association, mentioned that the community regularly consumes small, young sea cucumbers. However, there is interest in exporting the larger adult sea cucumbers to markets in China and Japan.
To explore the potential incorporation of the species into a commercial scallop fishery, researchers from Memorial University in Newfoundland were invited by the association to study Cucumaria frondosa, also known as the Orange-footed sea cucumber, in 2018. The discovery of the nursery was made the following year by Annie Mercier, a professor at the university’s ocean sciences department, and her team, with guidance from local residents.
According to Mercier, the nursery, located on the coastline near Sanikiluaq, was detailed in a 2023 article published in the scientific journal Polar Science. This discovery marked the first identification of a Cucumaria frondosa nursery.
The tiny baby sea cucumbers, measuring less than two millimeters, appear as pink specks on rocks and mussel shells near the surface, contrasting with the adults found deeper underwater. Mercier described the nursery as extensive, possibly extending across the Belcher Islands archipelago’s coastline, situated one to three meters below the ocean surface.
The research not only opens up new avenues for investigation but also provides crucial data for species management. Through collaboration with the local community, researchers collect and analyze specimens, sharing their findings with the Hunters and Trappers Association.
The association aims to leverage this data to support their case for a commercial fishery with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. While the process may be lengthy due to regulations, the potential benefits include job creation and economic opportunities for residents. The sea cucumbers could be marketed both locally and internationally, with possibilities for processing and selling adult sea cucumbers to foreign markets and consuming the younger ones locally.
In addition to scientific exploration, the findings offer a promising prospect for sustainable economic development in the region, emphasizing the importance of careful management to ensure the long-term viability of sea cucumber populations.