Among the echinoderms, holothurians (also known as 'Sea cucumbers) are commercially important. Introduced by the

Chinese, they are in existence in the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay for more than one thousand years

Baskar, B K

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STUDIES ON THE BIOLOGY, ECOLOGY AND FISHERY OF THE SEA CUCZJMBER MoLo TMURlA (8fBTJtlA Tl7,A) scAlMtA (JAEGER) FROR1 SOUTH EAST COAST O F  INDIA 7 Y  ESlS SLlBMlTTED IN PARTIAL FULFII-MENT OF THE REL7L11REklENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPtiY OF THE COCHlN LJNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECI.iNOLOGY POST GRADUATE PROGRAMME IN MARlCULTURE CENTRAL MARINE FISHERIES RESEARCH INSTITUTE KOCH! - 6 3 2  031 SEPTEMBER . 19 9 3 P R E F A C E  Among t h e  e c h i n o d e r m s ,  h o l o t h u r i a n s  ( a l s o  known a s  'Sea c u c u m b e r s )  a r e  c o m m e r c i a l l y  i m p o r t a n t .  I n t r o d u c e d  by t h e  C h i n e s e ,  t h e y  a r e  i n  e x i s t e n c e  i n  t h e  G u l f  o f  Mannar a n d  P a l k  Bay f o r  more t h a n  o n e  t h o u s a n d  y e a r s .  They h a v e  a h i g h  n u t r i t i v e  v a l u e  a n d  c e r t a i n  m e d i c i n a l  p r o p e r t i e s .  C e r t a i n  s p e c i e s  o f  h o l o t h u r i a n s  a r e  p r o c e s s e d  a n d  t h e  p r o c e s s e d  mater ia l  i s  known a s  Beche-de-mer o r  T r e p a n q  i n  t r a d e  p a r l a n c e .  Beche-de-mer i s  --  --c o n s i d e r e d  a  C h i n e s e  d e l i c a c y .  A t  p r e s e n t ,  I n d i a  i s  e a r n i n g  a  f o r e i g n  e x c h a n g e  o f  more  t h a n  o n e  c r o r e  r u p e e s  by e x p o r t i n g  beche-de-mer .  T h i s  p r o d u c t  h a s  n o  i n t e r n a l  m a r k e t .  The main  --- i n t e r n a t i o n a l  m a r k e t s  a r e  Hongkong,  S i n g a p o r e  a n d  M a l a y s i a .  I n  v i e w  o f  i t s  c o m m e r c i a l  i m p o r t a n c e  a n d  i n c r e a s i n g  demand i n  t h e  i n t e r n a t i o n a l  m a r k e t ,  c u l t u r i n g  h o l o t h u r i a n s  i n  c o a s t a l  w a t e r s  seems t o  be a  p r o m i s i n g  f i e l d .  A knowledge  o n  t h e  b i o l o g y  and  e c o l o g y  o f  h o l o t h u r i a n s  i s  d e s i r a b l e  f o r  s u c h  a  v e n t u r e .  V e r y  l i m i t e d  i n f o r m a t i o n  i s  a v a i l a b l e  o n  t h e s e  a s p e c t s  i n  t h e  c a s e  of H o l o t h u r i a  ( M . )  s c a b r a ,  p r e s e n t l y  t h e  m o s t  i m p o r t a n t  - s p e c i e s  c o m m e r c i a l l y .  Some work o n  t h e  r e p r o d u c t i v e  c y c l e  and a d e t a i l e d  s t u d y  o n  t h e  a n a t o m y  a n d  r e g e n e r a t i o n  of  d i g e s t i v e  t r a c t  of H .  (M.) s c a b r a  h a v e  b e e n  r e p o r t e d .  I t s  a s s o c i a t i o n  w i t h  - -  P i n n o t h e r u s  d e c a n e n s i s  f r o m  the G u l f  of Mannar a n d  t h e  o c c u r r e n c e  - o f  p e a r l  f i s h  E n c h c l i o p h i s  v e r r n i c u l a r i s  (0steichthys:Carapidae)in W. ( M . )  s c a b r a  h a v e  a l s o  b e e n  r e p o r t e d .  The i m p o r t a n c e  of - -

Studies on the biology, ecology and fishery of the sea cucumber Holothuria (Metriatyla) scabra (Jaeger) from south east coast of India

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Studies on the biology, ecology and fishery of the sea cucumber Holothuria (Metriatyla) scabra (Jaeger) from south east coast of India

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