Fueled by high demand and dwindling stocks, sea cucumber (SC) aquaculture is growing worldwide. This increases the importance of its development and diversification. The LAC region has the potential for a substantial expansion in SC farming. To this end, some efforts have been made with limited success. This work explores recent advances with the leading commercial local species (Isostichopus badionotus and Holothuria sp.), compiling regional experiences for more than ten years, with historical, societal, institutional, and private background, identifying the main problems and providing options to solve them, suggesting future goals, objectives, and guidance.
With the interest from buyers in I. badionotus, H. mexicana and H. floridana fisheries, aquaculture research started in the Yucatan peninsula and expanded to countries like Colombia, Bermuda, Belize, Panama, and other. The private sector followed the institutions and startup ventures in Belize and Panama initiated. At each level, various problems have arisen, getting most projects to a halt.
Biological and environmental: Proper SC broodstock for aquaculture is scarce. It is challenging to keep them in captivity for a long time thereby limiting their reproductive potential for culture purposes. For these species, there are substantial information gaps about the nutritional requirements, diseases, parasites, and improving farming technologies for their growth and survival. Additionally, they face fishing and environmental pressures in the wild. More R&D and sustainable production methods like integrated multitrophic aquaculture (IMTA) are required.
Social: SC aquaculture faces the same social misconceptions as other aquaculture species: competition for coastal space, the perception of pollution, and conflicts with the fishery. There is a scarce specialized workforce for these activities, and, in some countries, security is a concern. New production efforts require community training and generation of simple low-tech for remote areas.
Policy: In many LAC countries, there is little to no institutional support for aquaculture, and yet, a highly complicated bureaucracy or no regulatory framework. It is critical to educate key decision-makers about sustainable mariculture, including IMTA approaches with sea cucumbers as the basis and their integration in the blue economy.
Private sector: Many of the stakeholders ignore SC aquaculture profitability potential. At the same time, some have hired consultants from other regions without the required knowledge of local species and ecosystems, generating the perception of high risk, making them prefer other investments. Promising, simple, cheap technologies and procedures should generate more interest.
Conclusion
Sea cucumber aquaculture could be one of the main economic and societal drivers for many LAC countries. However, a groundwork multi-disciplinary approach is needed involving every stakeholder in an organized and conscientious manner.