figures for years 2007, 2008 and 2009 indicate much smaller export volumes with
1.27, 2.37 and 1.37 MT, respectively. The trading company for sea cucumbers in
the Dominican Republic is NETCO C x A which operates from Juan de Bolaño
Beach in Montecristi with CODOPESCA permissions for exportation to the United
States. There are no studies that scientifically support this exploitation. In fact,
there is no information on the species being harvested, minimum sizes, close
seasons or any other descriptive parameters of an organized fishery. The survival
of these echinoderm populations is seriously threatened. According to ToralGranda (2008), between 2002 and 2003, China imported 2,607 kg of dry weight of
sea cucumbers from Dominican Republic and 10,680 kg of dry weight from Haiti.
In Haiti, the Caribbean SeaFood Company announces online the sale of dried sea
cucumbers of the species Stichopus badionotus.
13.6 Threats
The threats to echinoderms are not very different from those faced by other marine
groups of Hispaniola. The destruction of ecosystems (mainly mangroves, seagrass
beds and coral reefs) due to coastal development (human settlements, agriculture,
industrial and tourist facilities and/or fishing) and tourism activities (especially
diving) is the major threat that affects all groups. In addition to impacts of habitat
destruction, some groups of echinoderms are exploited for commercial purposes.
These include some species of sea cucumbers used for human consumption and
some species of starfish and sea urchins used for sale as aquarium species
(SERCM 2004). Other echinoderm species, such as the sand dollar Mellita quinquiesperforata and the starfish Oreaster reticulatus are collected for handicrafts
that are sold in tourist establishments. Some fishermen also use this asteroid
species as bait in net traps. No ecological studies or fisheries biology research have
been done to support a sustainable exploitation of these resources.
13.7 Recommendations
It is essential to train a group of national specialists from Haiti and the Dominican
Republic in the systematic of all echinoderm classes that can work closely together
to better understand the echinofauna of Hispaniola. The National Museum of
Natural History in Santo Domingo should be involved in the development and
review of the marine collections. New investigations in structural ecology and
population dynamics of echinoderms must be initiated for those species that may
be subject to some kind of extractive use. For exploited species, it is also necessary
to conduct fishery biology investigations for the establishment of closed seasons,
protected areas from fishing and legal minimum sizes. Fishing regulations and
fishery statistics are crucial for a sustainable exploitation of these species. Marine
432
A. Herrera-Moreno and L. Betancourt
1.27, 2.37 and 1.37 MT, respectively. The trading company for sea cucumbers in
the Dominican Republic is NETCO C x A which operates from Juan de Bolaño
Beach in Montecristi with CODOPESCA permissions for exportation to the United
States. There are no studies that scientifically support this exploitation. In fact,
there is no information on the species being harvested, minimum sizes, close
seasons or any other descriptive parameters of an organized fishery. The survival
of these echinoderm populations is seriously threatened. According to ToralGranda (2008), between 2002 and 2003, China imported 2,607 kg of dry weight of
sea cucumbers from Dominican Republic and 10,680 kg of dry weight from Haiti.
In Haiti, the Caribbean SeaFood Company announces online the sale of dried sea
cucumbers of the species Stichopus badionotus.
13.6 Threats
The threats to echinoderms are not very different from those faced by other marine
groups of Hispaniola. The destruction of ecosystems (mainly mangroves, seagrass
beds and coral reefs) due to coastal development (human settlements, agriculture,
industrial and tourist facilities and/or fishing) and tourism activities (especially
diving) is the major threat that affects all groups. In addition to impacts of habitat
destruction, some groups of echinoderms are exploited for commercial purposes.
These include some species of sea cucumbers used for human consumption and
some species of starfish and sea urchins used for sale as aquarium species
(SERCM 2004). Other echinoderm species, such as the sand dollar Mellita quinquiesperforata and the starfish Oreaster reticulatus are collected for handicrafts
that are sold in tourist establishments. Some fishermen also use this asteroid
species as bait in net traps. No ecological studies or fisheries biology research have
been done to support a sustainable exploitation of these resources.
13.7 Recommendations
It is essential to train a group of national specialists from Haiti and the Dominican
Republic in the systematic of all echinoderm classes that can work closely together
to better understand the echinofauna of Hispaniola. The National Museum of
Natural History in Santo Domingo should be involved in the development and
review of the marine collections. New investigations in structural ecology and
population dynamics of echinoderms must be initiated for those species that may
be subject to some kind of extractive use. For exploited species, it is also necessary
to conduct fishery biology investigations for the establishment of closed seasons,
protected areas from fishing and legal minimum sizes. Fishing regulations and
fishery statistics are crucial for a sustainable exploitation of these species. Marine
432
A. Herrera-Moreno and L. Betancourt