Echinoderm fisheries of the world: A review

Abstract

Echinoderm fisheries represent ancient inshore fishery resources of some Asian and Mediterranean countries. Furthermore, import demand in Asia has stimulated harvesting abroad, in both developed and underdeveloped countries. Landings are now approaching 70,000 MT annually worldwide. Little is known of the biology of most harvested species. I provide what information is available on the landings, fisheries biology and management of sea stars, sea cucumbers, and sea urchins. Sea stars are occasionally fished for reduction to animal feed stocks and the curio trade but they may arouse more fisheries concern as pests feeding on shellfish. Sea cucumbers are harvested over a vast area of the tropics for export to Asia although by far the largest fishery occurs in Japan for the domestic market. Sea urchins dominate echinoderm landings, especially from Japan where there have long been many localized, cooperative-run fisheries. Chile and the U.S.A. (Pacific) report significant urchin landings as well. The fishery biology of urchins has not been well reported outside of Japan. Urchins have, however, attracted intense scientific interest because of their profound importance to benthic algal communities as grazers. In temperate areas the potential of urchins to influence other fisheries such as abalone, lobster, kelp and kelp-associated fin-fish has stimulated discussion of multispecies approaches to resource management.

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