CR

Isostichopus fuscus

Declining

Overview

Isostichopus fuscus, commonly known as the brown sea cucumber, is a species of sea cucumber in the family Stichopodidae native to the eastern Pacific. It was first described to science by German biologist Hubert Ludwig in 1875.

Isostichopus fuscus has suffered severe population crashes primarily due to unsustainable and often illegal commercial harvesting for the international bêche-de-mer trade, particularly in Ecuador and the Galápagos. Its slow growth, late maturity, and aggregation-based spawning make it especially vulnerable to overexploitation, as depleted populations struggle to rebound. Weak enforcement of fishing quotas and persistent poaching continue to undermine recovery efforts across much of its range.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits shallow, rocky and sandy subtidal seafloors along the Pacific coast of the Americas, typically at depths from the intertidal zone to around 70 meters, with significant populations concentrated in the Galápagos Islands.

Rocky areas· major

Conservation measures underway

Species recoveryLegislation

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Isostichopus fuscus classified as Critically Endangered?
Isostichopus fuscus is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Isostichopus fuscus has suffered severe population crashes primarily due to unsustainable and often illegal commercial harvesting for the international bêche-de-mer trade, particularly in Ecuador and the Galápagos. Its slow growth, late maturity, and aggregation-based spawning make it especially vulnerable to overexploitation, as depleted populations struggle to rebound. Weak enforcement of fishing quotas and persistent poaching continue to undermine recovery efforts across much of its range.
Where does Isostichopus fuscus live?
Isostichopus fuscus occurs in Ecuador, Mexico, and Peru. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Isostichopus fuscus?
The main threats to Isostichopus fuscus are 2.4, 5.4, and 9.3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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