20kg sea cucumbers meant for Sri Lanka seized
August 26, 2011 03:27 pm
Tamil Nadu forest officials seized 20 kg of preserved sea cucumbers, a banned marine species, meant for smuggling to Sri Lanka at Rameswaram today (August 26).
Acting on a tip-off, a forest official team conducted a raid in the house of a fish merchant Panchanathan (51) in Rameswaram town and effected the seizure.
The seized marine species were valued at one lakh Indian rupees. A case was registered against Panchanathan under the Wildlife Protection Act.
Sea cucumbers are in great demand because they are a delicacy and is used in preparing traditional medicines in countries like Taiwan, Japan, Singapore and China.
They fetch high price in the international market. Trading of sea cucumbers, listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 was prohibited under international law and poaching of these endangered species was banned in India and several foreign countries, reports UNI.
Acting on a tip-off, a forest official team conducted a raid in the house of a fish merchant Panchanathan (51) in Rameswaram town and effected the seizure.
The seized marine species were valued at one lakh Indian rupees. A case was registered against Panchanathan under the Wildlife Protection Act.
Sea cucumbers are in great demand because they are a delicacy and is used in preparing traditional medicines in countries like Taiwan, Japan, Singapore and China.
They fetch high price in the international market. Trading of sea cucumbers, listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 was prohibited under international law and poaching of these endangered species was banned in India and several foreign countries, reports UNI.
