Sea cucumber harvest

This year’s sea cucumber harvest has been under way on Socotra. Even though sea cucumbers are not traditionally consumed by Socotris, they have been popular with local fishermen who export them for attractive prices.

Gathered sea cucumbers are sold to Mukalla and then to Japan and China. Since many fishermen get engaged in the business it is not easy to find sea cucumbers close to the shore anymore and the fishermen have to go deeper to the sea where they dive up to 10 meters.

There are two kinds of sea cucumber around the Socotra archipelago: a white type and a dark one. The last is more desired and sold for higher price. Sea cucumber is a kind of demersal sea animal belonging to holothurians genus.

The collection season fall on March and April.