About 23 species of holothurians or sea cucumbers (bêche-de-mer) are harvested, the main targets are the species of highest commercial value, including white teatfish Holothuria fuscogilva and prickly redfish Thelenota ananas. Black teatfish Holothuria whitmaei were a primary target species but populations of these animals have declined and must not be harvested.

There are three commercial operators who collect sea cucumbers in Queensland, with entry to the fishery restricted. About 264 tonnes were harvested in 2002-03.

Approximately $4m

Sea cucumbers are harvested along the Queensland east coast from Tin Can Bay to Cape York. Most of the fishery is within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, with some inshore harvest near Hervey Bay and offshore harvest at Marion Reef.

The main target of the fishery, the white teatfish Holothuria fuscogilva is found in waters from 10-40m deep.

Holothurians or sea cucumbers are harvested by hand using hookah or scuba, by free-diving from dinghies, or by hand collection from reefs at low tide.

The animal is processed by gutting, grading, cleaning, boiling and drying. It is sold as beche-de-mer mostly to overseas markets, mainly in Hong Kong and Singapore.

The Australian Government Department of Environment and Heritage (DEH) assessed the east coast sea cucumber fishery as being managed in an ecologically sustainable manner. The fishery is an approved Wildlife Trade Operation (WTO) under Part 13A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act which allows export of product (subject to some recommendations and conditions) until December 2007.

The fishery is managed by the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries. A significant proportion of the fishery operates within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. As a result, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) is involved with the management, compliance and enforcement of the fishery. (Assessment of the QECBDMF, DEH, 2004).

The Queensland Sea Cucumber Association introduced additional management measures including time-limited rotational closures and some ‘precautionary trigger points’ (an amount captured in tonnes) for some sea cucumber species which, if exceeded in a year, will instigate a stock assessment.

In the 2004-05 season, minimum size limits were introduced with a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for white teatfish and a combined TAC for all other species. In addition, there are limits on the boats, dories and number of divers in the water at any one time.” (Assessment of the QECBDMF, DEH, 2004)

Compliance with the rotational zoning and area closures is assessed using Vessel Monitoring System (a satellite-tracking system for vessels).

Since 1995, commercial fishers have recorded the species, number and weight of sea cucumbers caught in daily logbooks. The effort, and depth and location of fishing is also recorded. When the catch is offloaded, fishers must report the number of specimens and the form that the catch is in. This report is done by telephone. Buyers also report on a daily basis.

However, the basic biology and ecology of holothurians is not fully understood, which is essential to ensure that the fishery can be managed in an ecologically sustainable way.

DEH. 2004. Assessment of the Queensland East Coast Beche-de-mer Fishery. Report from the Australian Government Department of Environment and Heritage.