Meet the “Sea Cucumber” a strange-looking creature with an enormous value—often referred to as the “gold of the sea.”
Many might not know that the sea cucumber is a high-value creature, fetching prices as high as $3,500 per kilogram, which is around 130,000 baht! But what makes this odd-looking animal so expensive? And who would spend such a huge amount of money on it? Let me tell you all about it.
First, let’s get to know the sea cucumber. These are invertebrates, with around 1,250 species found all over the world. They range in size from just 2 centimeters to as long as 1.8 meters! They inhabit oceans everywhere, from shallow waters near coastlines to the deepest ocean trenches. The expensive varieties are the ones from deep waters (the rarer they are, the more expensive they get).
Sea cucumbers play a significant role in the ecosystem. Their excretion releases nitrogen, ammonia, and calcium carbonate, which are key ingredients in coral reef formation. Additionally, their waste has a high pH level, helping to neutralize the acidity in seawater caused by human activities.
Now, let’s dive into the main reason behind the high price of these strange creatures. It’s because they are highly sought after in East Asia, where they’re believed to have health-boosting properties and are considered a nutritious delicacy. In the past, they were often served only to the upper class and the wealthiest individuals, making them a rare and valuable food item.
In the 1980s, as China’s economy boomed, a growing middle class started consuming sea cucumbers more frequently, pushing demand through the roof and driving prices even higher. The rarer and more unusual the species, the higher the price. The priciest variety is the “Japanese sea cucumber.”
As for its health benefits, the skin of the sea cucumber contains a substance called fucosylated glycosaminoglycan, which is used to treat arthritis. Nowadays, it’s not only popular in Asia but also in Europe, where it’s used to treat certain types of cancer and assist in blood clot prevention. As a result, sea cucumbers are in high demand worldwide.
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But… with such a good price, why don’t we just farm sea cucumbers and sell them? Well, farming them is actually quite tricky. Most sea cucumber larvae don’t survive to adulthood, and those that do take 2 to 6 years to reach maturity and be ready for sale. Additionally, some species need deep-water environments to thrive.
Currently, over 70 sea cucumber species are facing severe threats, with populations decreasing, and 7 species are at critical risk of extinction due to overfishing and global demand.
