250 kg of sea cucumber seized in TN

Rameswaram (TN), Sep 18: About 250 kg of sea cucumber, an endangered coral reef species, which was meant to be smuggled into Sri Lanka from Mandapam coast near here was seized today and one arrested in this connection, marine police said.

The sea cucumber worth Rs 15 lakh was being loaded onto a boat, when the Mandapam Marine Police on routine patrol duty checked and confiscated it this morning, they said.

One Suresh of Mandapam has been arrested in connection with this, they added.

Sea cucumbers, which play an important role in maintaining the marine ecological system, have been classified as endangered species and their harvest banned under the Wildlife Protection Act.

PTI