SEA CUCUMBER Apostichopus californicus CULTURE AND ENHANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN WASHINGTON STATE

De mand for giant red sea cucumbers (Apostichopus californicus) continues in Asian markets while wild harvest has declined on the west coast of North America. Multiple trials are in place in Washington state to culture this species on upland and floating structures that support other species (figures 1 and 2) .  Co-culture of sea cucumbers has proved to be effective with mussels, black cod, sea weed and oysters.  In addition, there are current food resources from aquaculture that the wild population currently exploits but conceivably  could utilize more efficiently. Efforts to further this utilization are in progress as well.