Strunjan/Strugnano, Slovenia | September 19, 2025
NIB launches tests on the co-cultivation of mussels and sea cucumbers
Sea cucumbers are a sought-after delicacy in many parts of the world. They thrive in the shallow waters of the Slovenian coast, but commercial exploitation is banned due to their relative slow growth. As part of the activities of the 2B-BLUE Joint Research Unit in Slovenia, NIB and Mytilus d.o.o. are testing the cultivation of sea cucumbers under existing offshore mussel farms. To this end, on September 19 a co-cultivation trial was launched at a demonstration site in Strunjan. Sea cucumbers were collected from the seabed and their length and weight recorded. Meanwhile, dedicated boxes were filled with layers of sand and sediment collected on site. The boxes were then anchored to the seabed beneath the farm or placed outside as a control. Their status, as well as physicochemical conditions, will be monitored over the next six months. Afterward, the sea cucumbers will be recovered and their size measured again. The aim is to determine whether sea cucumbers can adapt to enclosed conditions.
Photographs by NIB.
