Will the Sea Cucumber Industry Sink or Swim in Belize?
Sea cucumber fishing in Belize, though practiced for over two decades, became formally regulated in 2009 with the passing of Statutory Instrument 67, which introduced a closed season and limited licensing for the industry. Since then, licenses for sea cucumber harvesting have fluctuated between 70 and 80 permits annually, with quotas determined by an annual survey conducted by the Belize Fisheries Department. Initially, fishers received $3.50 BZD per pound of sea cucumber, but prices increased to $6.00 BZD per pound as demand grew. Some sea cucumbers can weigh as little as 1.6 oz. In 2016, new regulations were introduced, including size limits, gutted weight specifications, fishing hours, and managed access requirements. Further amendments in 2022 aimed to protect the fishery, with additional measures such as safeguarding spawning months, increasing size limits, and designating specific landing sites determined by the Fisheries Administrator. Despite its small scale, however, the sea cucumber fishery has gained significant attention from both buyers and fishers.
