Heightened interest has been reported recently in the islands of the Dodecanese in the fishing of sea cucumbers, a species that until recently was only harvested to use as bait, according to ANA.
The Southern Aegean regional authority has already issued licenses for the fishing of the species to fishing boats, mostly from the Greek islands of Kalymnos and Leros.
The sea cucumbers are echinoderms from the class Holothuroidea. They are marine animals with a leathery skin and an elongated body containing a single, branched gonad. Sea cucumbers are found on the seafloor worldwide.
The sea cucumber is called the “cleaner” of marine ecosystems and feed on the detritus produced by other marine organisms, which is why they live in sandy sea bottoms. The Chinese claim that they are a natural ‘viagra’ and are interested in purchasing huge quantities of the specific species.
The sampling of Holothuria will be conducted in the islands of Astypalea, Levitha, Kineros, Syrna, Halki, Alimia, Rhodes, Symi, Tilos, Nisyros, Pergoussa, Giali, Kos, Pserimos, Plati, Kalymnos, Leros, Lipsi, Arki, Patmos, Fourni and Agathonissi in area’s indicated by local fishermen.
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