Smoke-dried sea cucumber ready for commercialization

Now, locally processed sea cucumber, a delicacy very much in demand abroad, has much better chance of landing in the export market.

This is now possible through a technology generated by the Los Baños-based Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development (PCAMRD) headed by Executive Director Rafael D. Guerrero III.

PCIERD, which supported PCAMRD in the project, pointed out that processing techniques have been improved and standardized to upgrade the quality and prolong the shelf life of smoked and boiled-dried sea cucumber to command better price and eliminate product rejection in the export market.

Smoke-dried sea cucumber are considered traditional export products of the Philippines.

They are used as culinary delicacies and condiments for soups, noodles, and other dishes. Sea cucumbers are likewise recognized as one of the Chinese delicacies for their medicinal and curative properties against high blood pressure, muscular disorders, asthma, whooping cough, bronchial inflammation, and minor wounds.

The improved processing techniques of drying sea cucumbers are expected to augment the income of fishermen and processors.

"This technology can be transferred through training," DOST-PCIERD said.