© SEAFDEC/AQD
The second leg of the Regional Sea Cucumber Roadshow 2024, which took place in West Visayas from 13 – 14 June, successfully brought together academics, government agencies, and other sector stakeholders for the dissemination of the latest in sea cucumber fisheries and management. The event was hosted by the Southeast Asian Fisheries and Development Centre Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC/AQD) and supported by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.
Attendees – who hailed not only from Western Visayas but also from Cebu, Marinduque, Palawan, and Misamis Oriental – explored new sea cucumber culture methods, developed best practices for sea cucumber aquaculture and ocean rearing, and discussed partnerships with various agencies and organisations to expand farming to new localities.
The event hosted several informative lectures, covering topics such as sea cucumber ecology, hatchery and nursery practices, and community-friendly approaches to farming. The second day of the event featured workshops aimed at identifying sea cucumber status by area, identifying gaps and needs in the industry, and exploring potential collaborations, projects, and assistance.
By adopting practical sea cucumber culture methods, coastal communities can generate new income opportunities and diversified livelihoods, particularly for women. By advancing culture technologies to support expansion to new sites and ensure stable market accessibility, the project aims to achieve significant ecological, economic, and social impacts across the Philippines.
