Sea Cucumbers in Tanzania: A Literature Review of Their Ecological Significance, Economic Contributions, and Pathways to Sustainable Management for Coastal Communities.

Abstract

Abstract

Sea cucumbers have become one of the more valuable yet vulnerable marine resources in Tanzania’s coastal waters, driven by sustained demand from East Asian markets and the government's growing emphasis on the Blue Economy. This paper presents a literature review of the ecological significance, economic contributions, and pathways to sustainable management of sea cucumbers for Tanzania's coastal communities. Synthesising evidence from peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and policy reports published between 2016 and 2025, the review finds that sea cucumbers play meaningful ecological roles in sediment health, nutrient cycling, and the functioning of seagrass and coral reef systems, though sitespecific research in Tanzanian waters remains limited. Economically, sea cucumbers provide a critical source of cash income for artisanal fishers, with women dominating collection and processing yet capturing few of the benefits due to unequal value chains. The Blue Economy agenda appears to have raised the profile of marine resources but delivered mixed outcomes for small-scale harvesters, revealing a persistent gap between policy rhetoric and local realities. Pathways to sustainable management, including regulatory enforcement, community-based governance, and aquaculture development, each show promise under specific conditions, but none offers a standalone solution. The review concludes that sustainability challenges are as much about governance, equity, and political will as they are about technical interventions. Five policy recommendations are proposed, focusing on enforcement legitimacy, community-based management, low-technology aquaculture, gender equity, and integration with broader coastal livelihood strategies.