Holothuria atra, commonly known as the black sea cucumber or lollyfish, is a widespread species in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. This marine invertebrate is easily recognized by its smooth, pliable black skin, and it can grow up to 60cm,although 20cm is more common.The species is not easily distinguishable between males and females, and its development to maturity can take 18-25 days.
Despite its low commercial value, H. atra is heavily harvested in Asia, especially in shallow intertidal areas, making it a high-yield species in the Chinese market. Interestingly, the species seems to prefer habitats with higher organic content, such as seagrass and seaweed beds, where its abundance is higher. My own observations in Trincomalee (Adukkupar) confirm this trend, as H. atra was more abundant in seagrass habitats, likely due to the structure and organic richness of the environment.
However, this species faces challenges. Coastal development, pollution, and habitat degradation have led to the decline of nearshore ecosystems, affecting the population of H. atra. The species shows a preference for feeding on sediments rich in organic matter and microalgae, which makes its population vulnerable to environmental changes. As high-value sea cucumber species face overexploitation, attention has shifted to low-value species like H. atra. While it is resilient, this shift in focus could put additional pressure on its populations, particularly in regions where habitat degradation is already a concern.
Understanding and protecting H. atra’s preferred habitats could play a crucial role in ensuring the sustainability of this and other low-value sea cucumber species.
