Note from the coordinator

In this 18th issue of the SPC Beche-de-mer Information Bulletin, we present several original articles:

J.-F. Hamel and co-authors present the larval development and juvenile growth of the Galapagos sea cucumber Isostichopus fuscus.

A. Desurmont describes the new series of plastic identification cards, showing 20 different species of sea cucumbers, which the SPC Fisheries Information Section has prepared and produced for the National Fisheries Authority of Papua New Guinea.

R. Pitt and N.D.Q. Duy describe experiments conducted in Vietnam to produce sandfish.

Jiaxin Chen gives an overview of sea cucumber farming and sea ranching practices in China.

Conservation strategies for sea cucumbers are becoming important. A.W. Bruckner and co-authors discuss the CITES Appendix II listing and question whether such a listing would promote sustainable international trade.

P. Purwati and J. T. Luong-van present their study of the sexual reproduction in a fissiparous species, Holothuria leucospilota, in the tropical waters of Darwin, Australia. Their findings have led them to the question: "Does intensive fission prevent recruitment following sexual reproduction, or does failure of sexual recruitment generate intensive fission activity?"

We continue our publication of spawning observations in the wild with one case involving Pearsonothuria graeffei described by P. Purwati, and one involving Stichopus hermanni described by A. Desurmont.

Following these original articles, you will find our regular features presenting abstracts, new publications and meetings. A workshop on beche-de-mer was held in the Torres Strait Islands on 28 and 29 May 2002. Its objectives and outputs are presented here in the "Workshops and Meetings" section.

Please note that an important workshop on Advances in Sea Cucumber Aquaculture and Management (ASCAM), organised by the Fishery Department of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), is planned for October 2003 in China. The workshop, which aims at gathering experts from different parts of the world, is expected to last four full days. For more information, please contact Mr Alessandro Lovatelli at FAO: Alessandro.Lovatelli@fao.org

I remind you that the 11^th International Echinoderm Conference will be held at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany, on 6–10 October 2003. More information can be found at http://www.iec2003.uni-muenchen.de.

Previous issues of this Bulletin are also available online in both French and English. I also draw your attention to the very informative Virtual Echinoderms Newsletter. Issue no. 26 is available on the Web at www.nmnh.si.edu/iz/echinoderm.

An echinoderms forum was created after the International Conference in Dunedin. You can subscribe to it by contacting sabine.stohr@nrm.se or by sending an e-mail to listserv@nrm.se and including on the first line of the message SUBSCRIBE ECHINODERM-L, your surname and first name, but no other text.

Chantal Conand

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