Sea cucumber                               

                                                    Copyright infringement is not intended

Context: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) team seized 30 sea cucumber.

About sea cucumber:

• It is a banned marine species.
• Sea cucumbers are in high demand in China and Southeast Asia.
• It is primarily smuggled from Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka.
• Protection status: Sea cucumber in India is treated as an endangered species listed under schedule I of Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
• It serves a useful role in the marine ecosystem as they help recycle nutrients, breaking down detritus and other organic matter.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/coast-guard-seizes-live-sea-cucumbers-arrests-poachers/article65080542.ece