Sea cucumber identification cards: an analysis of their utility in the Pacific

Abstract

Fisheries management personnel and other stakeholders need a means of ensuring consistency when identifying the various species exploited within a fishery. We conducted a questionnaire-based survey to evaluate the usefulness of SPC’s “Pacific Island sea cucumber and beche-de-mer identification cards”. Quality photographs of live animals were the most valuable information. The usefulness of other information depended on the user group, and whether users were from large, developed countries or small Pacific Island nations. A key finding is that the content and format in which the information is presented should largely be dictated by the intended user group. In this case, waterproof identification cards were considered by users as important tools in aiding in the identification of sea cucumber species, which can lead to improved data collection and fisheries management.