Fisheries, trade and utilization of sea cucumbers in Malaysia

Fisheries, trade and utilization of sea cucumbers in Malaysia

In Peninsular Malaysia, sea cucumbers (locally known as “gamat”) belonging to the Stichopidae family, mainly curry fish (Stichopus hermanni formerly known as S. variegatus) and warty sea cucumber (S. horrens), are exploited for their medicinal properties. In Pulau Langkawi on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia in the State of Kedah, the processing industry has depleted the resources of S. hermanni, which is now an endangered if not an extinct species in the vicinity of the Langkawi Islands. Stichopus horrens, however, are still found in relative abundance in the reef flats of Pulau Pangkor, located on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia in the state of Perak. The raw products are traditionally processed into gamat oil and gamat water, and recently into medicated balm, toothpaste and soap. This paper describes the sea cucumber fisheries in Malaysia, the type of gear used, the abundance, localities where they are caught and ways for stock enhancement.

Choo, P.S.

2004

200828197

https://digitalarchive.worldfishcenter.org/handle/20.500.12348/2040?show=full