Survival and growth of wild-translocated individuals and released-cultured juveniles of sea cucumber Isostichopus badionotus off the northern Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

A decade ago, the Four-sided sea cucumber, Isostichopus badionotus, became an important fishery in the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico. However, difficulties in fishery management caused deterioration in its population and fishery. Consequently, at this time it is urgent to identify viable strategies to achieve its population restoration. Survival and growth are key biological factors for restoration programs in overfished sea cucumber populations. This work evaluates the survival and growth of both wild-translocated individuals and released-cultured juveniles off the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. In 2018, 60 wild, sea cucumber individuals were translocated into the sea at high (HD = 1.071 ind·m−2) and low densities (LD = 0.357 ind·m−2), and monitored in nine surveys over 133 days. In 2019, 60 cultured juveniles were released at nearby locations at natural shelters (NS) and artificial shelters (AS). These shelters were monitored over eight surveys in 67 days. Permanence rate (Pe) and disappearance rate (β) of individuals were calculated. Increase in average length and weight, and growth rates in length (cm·day−1) and weight (g·day−1), were estimated. Survival was higher (Pe = 51% and β = −0.005 ind·day−1) in wild-translocated individuals at LD (p < 0.05), with no growth detected. Survival of released juveniles was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in AS (Pe = 59.6%, b = −0.016 ind·day−1), which this latter was attributed to protection against predation, while growth rates were between 0.34 and 0.75 g·day−1. Results indicate wild-translocated individuals and released-cultured juveniles survived in the new habitat and grew after translocation and release, which suggests populations of I. badionotus may have the potential for restoration under guided fishery programs.