DPRO, Chennai, 16 Apr 2023 Indian Coast Guard Station Mandapam seized 105 kg of Sea Cucumber in an anti-poaching operation near Attangarai sea shore in Ramnad District, Tamilnadu. The contraband is worth Rs 47.25 lakh. Sea Cucumbers play an important role in maintaining balance and biodiversity in marine ecosystem and are listed as endangered species under “Schedule I” of Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
Sea cucumbers are marine invertebrates that live on the seafloor found generally in tropical regions. They’re named for their unusual oblong shape that resembles a fat cucumber.
There are about 1,250 species of sea cucumber, all of which belong to the taxonomic class Holothuroidea.
This class falls under the Echinodermata phylum, which also includes many other well-known marine invertebrates, such as sea stars, sea urchins and sand dollars.
They are crucial to maintain the balance of ocean habitats.
