Marketing Facts

Why sea cucumber? The favorable public perception of consuming sea cucumber products includes its use as a/an:

Table 5. Consumption of Sea Cucumbers according to Product Types, Buyers & Countries

• food security item that is very high in protein (> 70% by weight).
• valuable Asian delicacy for three millennia with anti-arthritic property and a mystic aphrodisiac.
• anti-viral & anti-bacterial agent with some of its components used in patented HIV/AIDS treatment.
• cancer inhibitor that has been showed to slow down the spread of cancerous cells, e.g. breast cancer.
• supplement promoting health and virility. (source: PAC International Inc.)

There is a well established local market for sandfish with prices that can be higher than the projected prices for export. Although it is still a niche market at the current stage, it has the potential to grow rapidly taking into consideration the positive economic development in Indonesia.