Sea cucumber harvesting in Oman constitutes a minor fishery. Harvesting takes place in Mahout Bay and centers on the sandfish, Holothuria scabra. The sea cucumber fishery was revived in 2003 with the increased demand of beche-de-mer from international markets. Sandfish are collected by hand by walking in shallow-water areas during low tide, between late November and May. Sandfish are traditionally processed to a dried form after first gutting, boiling and cleaning. While local prices paid to collectors varies from 10–50 Omani rials (OMR)2 for 100 live specimens, depending on the size of the sea cucumber and the season, local traders receive OMR 35–55 per kg of dried sandfish (beche-de-mer) when they export their product. Almost all Omani beche-de-mer are exported to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for re-export to international markets.

Sea cucumber harvesting in Oman constitutes a minor fishery. Harvesting takes place in Mahout Bay and centers on the sandfish, Holothuria scabra. The sea cucumber fishery was revived in 2003 with the increased demand of beche-de-mer from international markets. Sandfish are collected by hand by wal...