Some fishers eager to harvest sea cucumber

The Government's decision to allow the harvesting of sea cucumbers has been welcomed by fishermen, who say it will provide a well-needed source of income for folks who are currently experiencing a downturn in their business.

"A long time the market did ban, enuh; a long time it did fi open up back, because di market is there for it. Di Chiney people dem love it," Granville Black, a diver of 40 years, told THE STAR.

Floyd Green, the minister of agriculture and fisheries, last week announced plans for the opening of a limited-entry commercial fishery for sea cucumber, starting in September.

"Sea cucumber in the Asian market fetches US$385 per kilogramme. We believe that we here in Jamaica can harvest up to 30 tonnes of wet weight per year, which would give us up to US$30 million worth of export," Green said in Parliament last week.

Sea cucumbers have been used as a food source and medicinal ingredient in Asian and Middle Eastern countries for centuries. The product is believed to have aphrodisiac qualities, meaning it is thought to increase sexual pleasure or performance.

Black, who operates from the Old Harbour Bay Fishing Village in St Catherine, said that several persons are likely to gain employment as a result of the opening up of the market.

"When di diver dem dive, man a guh come fi cut it. Another one fi clean it and put it fi dry; yuh a guh have different people a play different role. It will create job opportunities," Black said.

"I am with the move, enuh, because it brings revenue to the rest of the fishermen ... . All they need to do now is to come and take the industry here and set up their establishments, because people are here to harvest them," Black added.

Kevin Baker, president of the Old Harbour Bay Fisherfolks Council, is also in support of the plans. He, however, has concerns.

"They should study these things to know when we can have close season for it. That simple means we don't harvest it in the time when they are breeding up," Baker said.

He said the authorities should also seek to find out if the removal of sea cucumbers is likely to impact the ecosystem.

"Harvesting is good, but we must also know the repercussions," Baker said.

In 2017, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations said there were 16 species of sea cucumbers that inhabit Jamaican waters, and six are deemed to be commercially important.

"Sea cucumber harvesting is being encouraged as one option to reduce the level of stress on the existing reef fisheries. Sea cucumbers are one of the several underutilised species; therefore, this industry has huge potential for development," the FAO said.

However, Omar, a diver who frequents Port Henderson Road in St Catherine, is not excited about the possibilities that the sea cucumber market is likely to offer.

"Dem thing deh no buy like fish and dem things deh. A man affi have link fi mek a money off it. It's a small business when yuh look at things deeply; only cruise ship and mostly Chinese people interested in it. Yuh nah go get people just get up and buy dat suh," he said.