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FROM
CUBA
Indiscriminate
exploitation of sea cucumber in Cuba threatens
its survival
HAVANA, October (www.cubanet.org) - The
indiscriminate harvesting of sea cucumbers
off the coast of Cuba threatens its ultimate
survival in the ecosystem, said a member
of the Cuban scientific community.
"The consequences of the disappearance
of these creatures would be dire,"
said the man who asked to be identified
only as Jesús, "because the
critter is important in maintaining clean
the marine environment."
The sea cucumber is an echinoderm, of the
family Holoturias; it filters a lot of organic
waste from the water, keeping toxicity levels
down, explained Jesús.
A company engaged in the harvesting of
the species, Pescavilla, exported several
tons of sea cucumber in 2002 to the Far
East, where it is believed to have aphrodisiac
properties. A kilogram (2.2 pounds) sells
there for 40 dollars.
The director of Pescavilla, Luis Orlando
Paz, was quoted recently in "Negocios
en Cuba" (Business in Cuba) saying
that "exploitation of the species is
becoming an important source of hard currency."
Paz also pointed out that "We will
not stop opening up new areas in order to
increase the volume of the catch."
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