A recent discovery of a vast undersea nursery housing billions of baby sea cucumbers near Sanikiluaq, Nunavut, is shedding light on the species and potentially paving the way for economic opportunities in the Arctic community.
Lucassie Arragutainaq, the manager of the Sanikiluaq Hunters and Trappers Association, mentioned that while the community regularly consumes small sea cucumbers, the larger adult specimens could be exported to markets in China and Japan.
In a bid to explore the prospect of integrating the species into plans for a commercial scallop fishery, the association enlisted the expertise of scientists from Memorial University in Newfoundland to investigate Cucumaria frondosa, also known as the Orange-footed sea cucumber, back in 2018.
Annie Mercier, a professor at the university’s ocean sciences department, along with her team accompanied by local residents, stumbled upon the nursery the following year, much to their excitement.
According to Mercier, there exist around 1,800 sea cucumber species globally, with limited knowledge about their nursery locations due to their elusive nature, making them challenging to locate.
Their findings were documented in a 2023 publication in the Polar Science journal, highlighting the discovery of the first-ever Cucumaria frondosa nursery near Sanikiluaq.
The baby sea cucumbers, measuring less than two millimeters, were spotted resembling pink specks on rocks and mussel shells near the ocean surface, contrasting the deeper habitat of the adult sea cucumbers.
Mercier described the nursery as extensive, potentially stretching across the Belcher Islands archipelago coastline at a depth of one to three meters below the ocean surface, opening up new avenues for research on growth rates, migration patterns, and behaviors of the species.
Joséphine Pierrat, a postdoctoral researcher at Memorial University, illustrated the abundance of baby sea cucumbers during a research expedition in Sanikiluaq, emphasizing the need to gather data through community collaboration for potential commercial ventures.
The Sanikiluaq Hunters and Trappers Association is leveraging the collected data to advocate for a commercial fishery with a focus on sea cucumbers alongside scallops, a process that could take time due to regulatory considerations.
Mercier emphasized the importance of sustainable management practices to prevent the depletion of sea cucumber populations, stressing the potential job creation and economic benefits for the community through a well-managed fishery.
Pierrat highlighted the dual market potential for sea cucumbers, suggesting that adult specimens could be processed for international markets while younger sea cucumbers could cater to local consumption, offering a new food source with versatile culinary options.
Arragutainaq shared his community’s enthusiasm for exploring sea cucumber consumption, noting the versatility of the species in culinary applications, indicating potential economic opportunities for Sanikiluaq residents.
