A significant finding of a nursery housing billions of baby sea cucumbers near Sanikiluaq, Nunavut, has provided valuable insights into this species and holds potential economic benefits for the Arctic community. Lucassie Arragutainaq, managing the Sanikiluaq Hunters and Trappers Association, mentioned the community’s consumption of young sea cucumbers, suggesting the larger adults could be exported to markets in China and Japan. Scientists from Memorial University were brought in by the association to explore the commercial potential of the Orange-footed sea cucumber, scientifically known as Cucumaria frondosa, in 2018.
Annie Mercier, a professor from the university, along with her team, accompanied by locals, made the groundbreaking discovery of the nursery the following year. The community was previously unaware of its existence. Mercier expressed excitement over the find, highlighting the scarcity of knowledge about sea cucumber nurseries globally due to their elusive nature. The team’s research, published in a 2023 article, marked the first identification of a Cucumaria frondosa nursery.
The baby sea cucumbers, measuring less than two millimeters and appearing as small pink specks on rocks and mussel shells, were found closer to the water’s surface compared to the adult specimens residing in the ocean depths. Mercier described the extensive nursery, likely spanning the Belcher Islands archipelago coast, situated one to three meters below the ocean surface.
The discovery has opened new avenues for research, enabling a deeper understanding of the species’ growth and behavior patterns, essential for effective species management. The collaborative efforts between researchers and the local community in gathering and analyzing data are crucial for potential commercial fisheries development. Plans for a sea cucumber fishery alongside an existing scallop fishery are under consideration, with an emphasis on sustainable practices to avoid depletion seen in other sea cucumber fisheries globally.
The potential benefits for the community include job creation and the establishment of a dual market for sea cucumber products, catering to both local consumption and international trade. Arragutainaq highlighted the versatility of sea cucumbers as a food source, mentioning their various culinary uses, from raw consumption to roasting. Pierrat, a postdoctoral researcher, emphasized the abundance of baby sea cucumbers in the area, hinting at the promising prospects for the species’ commercial utilization.