Fish products and Byproducts Technology

Unit 10 - Fish By- products

10.5. Beche- de -mer
This is a product processed out of marine animal called sea cucumber belonging to class Holothuria which inhabits in tropical and temperate waters especially in Indo pacific regions. In India, sea cucumbers are found in south-east coast, Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Kutch and Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep. Holothuriascabra is the most abundantly used in India. Product prepared from sea cucumber is known as beche- de- mer or trepang. The animals are collected from shallow sea bed washed in clean sea water to remove dirt, sand and extraneous matter and then heated gently over a fire without any addition of water in galvanised iron or aluminium tubs. Then they are washed and cleaned and heated more strongly till sufficient water is expelled from their bodies to cover them completely. Boiling is continued for 50 min till a animal shrinks to half of their original size. The material is buried in sand and the sea water is sprinkled over to avoid drying up. After 18 hrs pit is opened out and skins are peeled off manually and taken in basket. De-skinning is carried out then washed and boiled with sea water. Water is drained and dried in the sun spread on mats. Smoking is carried out if it is desired by buyers.