Description

sea cucumber alaska

The sea cucumber is an oblong-shaped, gelatinous creature that is of the class Holothuroidea and distantly related to starfish and sea urchins.

Buy fresh sea cucumber Alaska

This Tasty farmed price of fresh sea cucumber are available in fresh and frozen varieties and ready for consumption.

Sea cucumbers are marine invertebrates belonging to the class Holothuroidea. There are approximately 1,000 species of sea cucumbers, making them one of the largest groups of echinoderms. Sea cucumbers have been eaten since ancient times in many parts of Asia, Africa, and South America. In addition to being eaten fresh, they are often dried and ground into a powder.

The body plan of sea cucumbers consists of five segments (called somites) covered by a protective outer skin called the tunica. Each segment bears a pair of tentacles, two pairs of ambulacral suckers, and a tube foot. The mouth is located at the posterior end of each segment. The anus is located near the anterior end of the fifth segment.

Sea cucumbers are filter-feeders and use their tentacles to capture food particles. Their bodies are divided into three regions: the head region, the trunk region, and the tail region. The head region contains sensory organs, including eyes, antennae, and statocysts. The trunk region includes the digestive system, respiratory system, and gonads. The tail region contains the reproductive system.

Sea cucumbers produce mucus, which helps protect them from predators. Mucus is produced continuously throughout the day and night. The color of sea cucumber mucus changes depending on the time of day; it is white in the morning and turns red in the evening.

Sea cucumbers live in shallow water and burrow into sand or mud bottoms. They prefer temperatures between 15°C and 25°C. They may survive freezing temperatures if they are buried in sand or mud.
Sea cucumbers reproduce sexually.

Females release eggs into the water column where spermatozoa swim toward them. Eggs hatch after about 2 days. Larvae drift freely until they settle onto hard surfaces, where they metamorphose into juvenile sea cucumbers. Juveniles remain attached to the substrate until they reach sexual maturity.

Catching

Sea cucumbers have been harvested commercially since the early 1900s. Harvesting methods vary according to the type of sea cucumber. Some species are collected by hand using long-handled nets. Others are caught in trawls or dredges. Still others are captured in traps baited with fish or squid.
Sea cucumbers can be sold fresh, frozen, salted, smoked, pickled, canned, or dried.

Fresh sea cucumbers are best known for their edible flesh. Dried sea cucumbers are commonly used in soups and stews. Pickled sea cucumbers are popular in Japan. Smoked sea cucumbers are used in Chinese cuisine. Salted sea cucumbers are used as a snack food in Korea. Canned sea cucumbers are used to make soup stock.

In China, sea cucumbers are considered a delicacy and are highly prized. A dish called xue cai chao (literally “cucumber soup”) is prepared by boiling sea cucumbers in saltwater. The result is a gelatinous mass that resembles jellyfish.

Nutritional Value

Sea cucumbers contain various types of vitamins and minerals. They are rich in protein, iron, zinc, copper, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, vitamin E, vitamin K, and iodine.

Sea cucumbers also contain high levels of polysaccharides, glycoproteins, and sulfated polysaccharides. These compounds are believed to help prevent cancer and improve immune function.
Sea cucumbers provide several nutritional benefits. They are low in fat and cholesterol and are high in dietary fiber. They are also rich in minerals and trace elements.