Local perceptions of the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of sea cucumber farming in southwestern Madagascar

This study explores local perceptions of the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of sea cucumber farming in southwestern Madagascar. Among the 298 households surveyed, 69 were actively engaged in sea cucumber farming, participating in sales six to nine times annually, with each farmer selling 43-158 adult sea cucumbers per period. Repurchase prices per village ranged from MGA 5 33,660,000 to MGA 150,534,200 per year, corresponding to an average selling price of MGA 2,078,378 per farmer per year. Sea cucumber farming significantly enhances household living conditions, as indicated by impacts such as furniture acquisition, fishing gear, and home construction. Two primary challenges faced by sea cucumber farmers are theft in sea pen enclosures and conflicts over marine space initiated by non-sea cucumber farmers. Regarding environmental impacts, villagers found it challenging to respond comprehensively, primarily noting the attraction and aggregation of various marine animals around sea cucumber enclosures, including juvenile sea cucumbers, finfish, gastropods, bivalves, octopus, shrimp, and squid. In conclusion, sea cucumber farming contributes positively to the standard of living for village farmers in southwestern Madagascar. The engagement of sociologists is imperative for addressing social challenges and fostering the development of this sector.