Acting promptly on a tip-off, the Indian Coast Guard swung into action to seize a two-tonne shipment of endangered marine species of sea cucumber that was being smuggled through Indian waters. The interception by the Coast Guard teams at Mandapam, Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu took place on Sunday (September 19) in the Gulf Mannar and Palk Bay areas.

The vessel anchored 15 kilometres off the Vedalal South locality in Mandapam was boarded and searched by the team of ICG Hovercraft H-183. They recovered 200 gunny bags of sea cucumber weighing 2000 kilograms.

The seized sea cucumbers were brought to Mandapam and handed over to the forest officials and the value of these creatures is said to be around Rs.8 crores.

Sharing details of this incident, the Coast Guard said, the consignment was to be transshiped across the International Maritime Boundary Line during dark. These marine creatures fetch a high price in China and Southeast Asia as they are eaten as well as used for medicinal purposes there.

These species are smuggled from Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka in fishing vessels from Ramanathapuram and Tuticorin districts.

An important part of the maritime ecology, sea cucumbers play a vital role in maintaining the health of the ecosystem. Sea cucumbers enhance the productivity of those animals that live on the ocean floor by excreting inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus.

It is important to note that one of the by-products of the sea cucumber's digestion of sand is calcium carbonate, which is a key component of coral reefs.

According to Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, in India, sea cucumber is treated as an endangered species.