Survey on species compositions and fishing status of sea cucumber in Nam Du and Tien Hai island, Kien Giang province

Abstract

The study was performed to assess species composition and status of sea cucumber fishery in the South west sea of Kien Giang province. Field sampling of sea cucumber population were conducted in Nam Du and Tien Hai Islands from March to May and October 2018. Results revealed that 14 species belong to 2 families (Holothuridea and Stichopodidea) with 4 genus (Actinopyga, Holothuria, Pearsonothuria and Stichopus) were found, of which the Stichopus spp. was most dominant followed by Pearsonothuria graeffei and Holothuria leucospilota. These species was found in the Islands at the depth from 2 to 25 m. The sizes of these species in term of length varied from 9 to 47 cm and their individual weights were between 16 and 1854 g. Furthermore, the survey was carried out by interviewing directly 54 fishermen in Nam Du and Tien Hai Islands. Surveyed results showed that sea cucumber catching has been only a secondary job and the technique of sea cucumber fishing is simple with scoop net. Fishing season of sea cucumber takes place year round with catching sizes varied from 0.3 to 2 kg and Stichopus spp. are the target species for catching.Currently, the fishing sea cucumber in the study area has encountered many disadvantage such as unusual weather, deletion of sea cucumber resource, unstable selling price… that resulting in fishing sea cucumber has been soon replaced by catching other marine species (marine fish, snail, squid and others) to obtain high income and to improve the livelihood of fishermen in this region.