Mgaya, Yunus D.Kithakeni, Twalibu M.2016-07-082016-07-082007Mgaya, Y., Mmbaga, T. and Dar-es-Salaam, T.A.N.Z.A.N.I.A., 2007. Sea cucumbers in Tanzania. Commercial sea cucumbers: a review for the, p.51.0856-7972http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11810/2928Sea cucumbers constitute one of the important marine resources of Tanzania (Semesi et al. 1998) and there has been a rapid expansion of sea cucumber exploitation at some sites in Tanzania (Mgaya et al. 1999). The sea cucumber fi shery developed without baseline biological data and without any monitoring. Therefore to-date, Tanzania has unknown and unquantifi ed sea cucumber resources though the fi shery provides income to local collectors and generates export earnings (Mmbaga and Mgaya 2004). The fi shery is largely artisanal with a small commercial operation monopolised by a few exporters. Exploitation occurs year-round on reefs close to shore with collection peaking during periods of light winds and trips can be made to the outer reefs. The level of exploitation differs from shore to shore depending on fi sher folk experience, number and category of fi shers, fi shing techniques and season. Sea cucumbers are purchased by a number of traders based in Dar es Salaam, Tanga and Zanzibar from where they are exported to eastern Asia mainly Hong Kong SAR (China) and Singapore (Unpublished data). The increase in export of beche-de-mer was observed from 1980s (< 200 mt per annum) to 1992 (617 mt); exports have continued to decline thereafter (Marshall et al. 2001). These authors report further that the number of offi cial beche-de-mer exporters on the Tanzania mainland has decreased from 23 in 1993 to 8 in 1997 and that the exporters have largely halted exports as a result of the declining profi ts.enBook chapter