Beche-de-mer industry and export:Present status of the Beche-de-mer industryIn the Palk bay and the Gulf of Mannar

A survey was conducted to study the present status of the beche-de-mer from Adirampatnam to Cape Comorin. At present processing of holothurians is carried out from Rameswaram to Sethubhavachatram in Palk Bay and from Pamban to Tuticorin in the Gulf of Mannar. In the Palk Bay, Rameswaram and Thirupalakudi are the most important centres and in the Gulf of Mannar, Kilakarai, Periapatnam and Tuticorin are important centres. Mostly Holothuria (Metriatyla) scabra is processed. Very small quantities of Holothuria (Theelothuria) spinifera and Bohadschia marmorata are also processed. The exploitation is more on the Palk Bay than in the Gulf of Mannar. In most of the places there are indications of overfishing. At present the resource remains untapped from a vast stretch in the Gulf of Mannar from Kilakarai to Tuticorin. The present-day catch and effort from various processing centres are presented.