A newly discovered undersea nursery housing billions of baby sea cucumbers near Sanikiluaq, Nunavut, is shedding light on the species and potential economic opportunities for the Arctic community. Lucassie Arragutainaq, the Sanikiluaq Hunters and Trappers Association manager, mentioned that while the community consumes young sea cucumbers, mature ones could be sold to markets in China and Japan.
Researchers from Memorial University in Newfoundland were invited by the association to study the Orange-footed sea cucumber species, also known as Cucumaria frondosa, in 2018. Led by Annie Mercier, a professor in the university’s ocean sciences department, the team, with the help of local residents, discovered the nursery the following year, much to their excitement.
Mercier highlighted the significance of the find, emphasizing the scarcity of information on sea cucumber nurseries globally due to their elusive nature. The research team’s findings were documented in a 2023 article in the peer-reviewed journal Polar Science, marking the first identification of a Cucumaria frondosa nursery.
The baby sea cucumbers, measuring less than two millimeters and resembling pink specks on rocks and mussel shells, differ from their adult counterparts found deeper in the ocean. Mercier described the vast nursery spanning the Belcher Islands archipelago’s coastline, located between one to three meters below the ocean surface.
Joséphine Pierrat, a postdoctoral researcher at Memorial University, pointed out the abundance of baby sea cucumbers during a research trip to Sanikiluaq, highlighting their presence in the local ecosystem. The collaborative efforts between researchers and the community aim to gather essential data for potential commercial fishing endeavors, including the incorporation of sea cucumbers into existing fisheries.
Arragutainaq expressed optimism about the prospects of establishing a sea cucumber fishery, emphasizing the need for careful management to ensure sustainability. The potential benefits for the community include job creation and economic opportunities. Pierrat suggested a dual market approach, with adult sea cucumbers processed for export and younger ones consumed locally, either raw or roasted, offering a new food source for the community.
