STORY / PUBLIC SOURCE RECORD
How Norwegian sea cucumber can conquer the world
- Published 8 March 2023; updated 21 September 2026; estimated reading time 4 minutes. The article explores Norwegian red sea cucumber (Parastichopus tremulus) as a possible seafood export. It says the species occurs along Norway’s coast and that Asian markets, especially China, have demand for sea cucumber; the page notes some commercially traded species had reached USD 1,000/kg. This is a historical market price example, not a current quote. Møreforsking researcher Margareth Kjerstad describes red sea cucumber as a potential mid-market product based on size, taste and nutrition.
- Kjerstad’s research programme aimed to build commercial use in foods, supplements and medicines over five to eight years. The article said firms including Eir of Norway had begun exporting to China and other markets, but scaling was constrained by available volume and protection rules: trawling is prohibited in coastal areas where sea cucumbers are concentrated. Companies were developing lower-impact harvesting methods.
- ECOFANG’s remote-controlled drone technology, then used to harvest wild sea urchins, was described as potentially suitable for sea cucumber as well. Aquaculture was an early-stage alternative: researchers had induced spawning in captivity but still needed to study development through settlement and growth, broodstock/egg quality and facilities for life stages before judging commercial feasibility.
- The page says producers may favour a premium, sustainable market position over maximum volume. Products could be sold live, fresh, frozen, dried or processed into sausage, powder or extracts. Asian markets were primary, with possible interest from Norwegian restaurants and European buyers. It ends with a prediction that much would happen in 2020, signalling that parts of the source text are stale despite later page updates.
- Named interviewee: Margareth Kjerstad, research manager and sea-cucumber specialist at Møreforsking. Companies linked: Eir of Norway and ECOFANG. Related industries: Aquaculture and fisheries; Agritech and food production. No direct contact block is shown.