Sea Cucumber from Yangma Island

Sea Cucumber from Yangma Island

　　Sea cucumber from Yangma Island is a specialty of Yangma Island in Muping District, Yantai City, Shandong Province. The island’s outer bay features deep waters with strong currents, an underwater landscape of rugged reefs and abundant seaweed, and minimal seasonal temperature fluctuations—conditions that are particularly ideal for the habitat of black spine sea cucumbers. The black spine sea cucumbers produced here are rich in nutrients and also have medicinal value.

　　Black spine sea cucumbers belong to the phylum Echinodermata, class Holothuroidea, family Stichopodidae. They mostly grow in seabed rocky reef and gravel areas, are rich in protein, and are important both as medicine and tonic. They are one of the precious marine products along the Muping coast. They are delicious and nutritious. Both Yangma Island and the offshore area near Mashanzui produce them, but those from the outer bay of Yangma Island are more abundant and of higher quality. The distribution area of sea cucumbers in the outer bay of Yangma Island covers approximately 8,000 mu, where individuals are relatively large and resources are quite rich, with an annual suitable catch of about 3,000 jin (dried product).