A Review of the Northern Sea Cucumber Cucumaria frondosa (Gunnerus, 1767) as a Potential Aquaculture Species

Abstract

Sea cucumbers are highly marketable as a food and medicinal product. Many species are being cultured in addition to being fished to meet the high demand for these products. This review explores the potential use of the Northern sea cucumber, Cucumaria frondosa, as a viable aquaculture species in the North Atlantic. Utilizing the literature available on this species, the marketability, biology, production cost, hatchery potential, grow-out technology, and alternate uses within integrated multi-trophic aquaculture sites were examined. C. frondosa is well suited for culture in that it has an established market, it is abundant, its reproductive biology is well understood, and it has potential as an extractive co-culture species. Its slow growth rate and low value could limit its production.