Beche-de-mer resources of Lakshadweep

Abstract

Information on the beche-de-mer resources of Lakshadweep is limited. Earlier no suveys were conducted to estimate the resources of holothurians used in the preparation of bechede- mer. In fact very little information is available even on the holothurians of the Lakshadweep Koehler and Vaney (19^5, 19C8, 1910) reported 18 species from deep sea, eight species from shallow-water and one species from deep sea around the Lakshadweep. Of the eight shallow-water species reported only Actinopyga mauritiana is of commercial importance. James (1969) catalogued 15 species of holothurians from the Lakshadweep of which only four species viz., Thelenota ananas. Holothuria {Microthele) nobilis, Actinopyga miliaris and A. mauritiana are used for beche-de-mer preparation.