Actinopyga echinites

Actinopyga echinites, commonly known as the deepwater redfish or tigerfish sea cucumber, is a large-bodied sea cucumber in the family Holothuriidae. It has a thick, firm body wall typically dark brown to black in color, with a somewhat rectangular cross-section when viewed from above. Like other holothurians, it feeds by ingesting sediment and organic detritus, extracting nutrients as it passes material through its digestive tract.

This deposit-feeding behavior aerates and recycles seafloor sediments, making the species an important contributor to nutrient cycling in shallow marine ecosystems.

The species occupies shallow marine and coastal habitats, including reef flats, rocky areas, sandy substrates, and neritic waters, generally in the intertidal to shallow subtidal zone. Its range spans the Indo-Pacific and western Indian Ocean, with records from dozens of countries and territories including Australia, Madagascar, the Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and numerous Pacific island nations.

The primary threat to Actinopyga echinites is direct harvesting for the bêche-de-mer (dried sea cucumber) trade, which targets it for food markets, particularly in Asia. Its relatively large size, accessibility in shallow water, and market value make it a preferred target, leading to localized depletion across much of its range. Overfishing has reduced populations in many areas, and the species is classified as Vulnerable with a decreasing population trend.

Conservation measures include fishing bans, quotas, and size limits implemented in several Pacific and Indian Ocean nations, along with monitoring under CITES discussions for sea cucumber trade regulation. Enforcement remains inconsistent across its wide range. Without stronger, consistently applied harvest controls, continued demand is likely to sustain population declines in unmanaged or poorly regulated fisheries.