Sea Cucumber Fishing Nicobari Andaman Marine Livelihood

Sea cucumber collection and processing has been a traditional livelihood of the Car Nicobar and Great Nicobar communities in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, whose coastal fishing economy includes collection of beche-de-mer (dried sea cucumber) for export to East Asian food markets where it is considered a premium seafood. Andaman and Nicobar sea cucumbers are harvested by free diving in coral reef and sandy lagoon habitats, cleaned, boiled in seawater, and sun-dried on bamboo racks for several days to produce the dense, wrinkled dried product. Holothurians (sea cucumbers) from the Andaman Sea are among the most biodiverse in the world: over 50 species have been documented in island reef systems. Traditional collection by Nicobari communities was sustainable and governed by community tenure on specific reef areas. The Andaman and Nicobar administration regulates sea cucumber collection through seasonal permits to prevent overfishing. Dried beche-de-mer fetches high prices from Singapore, Hong Kong, and Chinese restaurant suppliers. Cooperative fishing societies on Car Nicobar connect artisanal collectors with licensed exporters, improving price realisation. Marine conservation organisations work with island communities to maintain healthy sea cucumber populations through rotational reef resting periods.