Bioenergetic model for the sea cucumber Cucumaria frondosa

海参Cucumaria frondosa传统上由努纳武特的土著居民捕捞，自20世纪80年代以来在加拿大大西洋地区进行商业捕捞。这种海参是几个亚洲国家传统医学的重要组成部分，这推动了其需求。作为一种最近开发的渔业，人们对海参的生物学，特别是其生长速度的了解有限。实施科学管理计划以确保这一物种的可持续性，需要填补这些关键的知识空白。因此，该项目旨在产生有关这种海参的科学知识，有助于可持续地利用这种新兴渔业。这一目标是与海洋骄傲渔业有限公司合作实现的，新斯科舍省的一家公司，是北美最大的垂直整合海参业务。为了实现这一目标，我们将把海参转移到Aquatron海水实验室（达尔豪西大学），在那里我们将模拟海参暴露在海洋中的条件。在这些受控条件下，我们将能够测量生长以及摄食和呼吸速率。我们将利用这些实验中收集的所有信息来创建一个数学模型来预测海参的生长。该模型可用于为渔业管理提供信息，并有助于确定该物种的可持续做法。此外，该项目将为学生提供一个获得各种技能的绝佳机会，从在加拿大最大的大学水生研究设施Aquatron工作的技术技能到科学研究和沟通技能。因此，该项目不仅将有助于收集信息，以确保加拿大公共资源的可持续性，而且还将培训下一代海洋科学家和管理人员。

The sea cucumber Cucumaria frondosa has been traditionally fished by Indigenous Peoples in Nunavut and commercially fished since the 1980s in Atlantic Canada. This sea cucumber is an important component in the traditional medicine of several Asian countries, which drives its demand. As a recently developed fishery, there is limited knowledge about the biology of the sea cucumber, particularly about its growth rate. The implementation of science-based management plans to ensure the sustainability of this species requires filling these critical knowledge gaps. Accordingly, this project aims to generate scientific knowledge about this sea cucumber that could contribute to the sustainable exploitation of this emerging fishery. This goal arises in partnership with Ocean Pride Fisheries Ltd., a Nova Scotia company that is the largest vertically integrated sea cucumber operation in North America. To accomplish this goal, we will transfer sea cucumbers to the Aquatron Seawater Laboratory (Dalhousie University) where we will simulate the conditions at which the sea cucumbers are exposed in the ocean. Under these controlled conditions, we will be able to measure growth as well as feeding and respiration rates. We will use all information collected during these experiments to create a mathematical model to predict the growth of the sea cucumber. The model could be used to inform fisheries management and contribute to defining sustainable practices for this species. Furthermore, the project will provide an excellent opportunity for students to gain diverse skills, from technical skills by working at the Aquatron, Canada's largest university aquatic research facility, to scientific research and communication skills. Therefore, the project will not only contribute to gathering information to ensure the sustainability of a Canadian public resource, but will also train the future generation of marine scientists and managers.