Why in news?

• Sea cucumber related seizures increased in 2019 and 2020, making Gulf of Mannar/Palk Bay region a global hotspot for sea cucumber smuggling.
• Sea cucumbers are being harvested in India and Sri Lanka owing to high demand from East Asia where they are considered a delicacy, eaten both fresh or dried, and are also used in traditional Chinese medicine.
• Though India banned sea cucumber fishery in 2001, Sri Lanka tried to restrict the trade through a system of permits. This disparity allowed Indian fishers to exploit Sri Lanka’s legalised sea cucumber trade.
• About Sea Cucumbers
• Sea cucumbers are part of animal group called echinoderms (marine invertebrates) that live on the seafloor.
• Their body shape is similar to a cucumber, but they have small tentacle-like tube feet that are used for locomotion and feeding.
• Habitat: Found in virtually all marine environments throughout the world- shallow to deep-sea environments.
• Threats: climate change and ocean acidification, habitat destruction, illegal fishing, and water pollution.
• Sea cucumber in India is treated as an endangered species listed under schedule I of Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.