A recent discovery of a large nursery containing billions of baby sea cucumbers near Sanikiluaq, Nunavut, has provided valuable insights into the species, potentially offering economic opportunities for the Arctic community. Lucassie Arragutainaq, the Sanikiluaq Hunters and Trappers Association manager, noted that while the community consumes small sea cucumbers, adult specimens could be exported to markets in China and Japan. In 2018, scientists from Memorial University in Newfoundland were invited to study the Orange-footed sea cucumber species, also known as Cucumaria frondosa, for potential inclusion in commercial fishing plans.
Annie Mercier, a professor at the university, and her team, assisted by local residents, discovered the nursery in the following year. The nursery was previously unknown to the community. Mercier expressed excitement over the find, highlighting the limited knowledge of sea cucumber nursery grounds globally due to the elusive nature of these creatures.
Published in a 2023 article in the journal Polar Science, Mercier’s team detailed the first-ever discovery of a Cucumaria frondosa nursery near Sanikiluaq. The tiny baby sea cucumbers, less than two millimeters in size, were found near the surface, contrasting with the deeper-dwelling adults. The expansive nursery likely extends along the Belcher Islands archipelago coastline, one to three meters below the ocean’s surface.
The research not only uncovers new information about sea cucumbers but also aids in species management. Joséphine Pierrat, a postdoctoral researcher, highlighted the abundance of baby sea cucumbers in the nursery, emphasizing the collaborative effort between the research team and the local community in data collection and analysis.
The Sanikiluaq community aims to leverage this data to support a potential commercial fishery, building on initial interest in scallop fishing. The slow and cautious approach advocated by Mercier emphasizes the importance of sustainable management practices to prevent depletion, with potential economic benefits for the community through job creation and market opportunities. Sea cucumbers, both adults and young, offer a dual market potential for local consumption and export, presenting a new learning opportunity for the community.