Kalpitiya peninsula sea-cucumber (Holothuria scabra) farming: pen enclosures and sandy silt?

Sea cucumber farming in the shallow bays of Kalpitiya centers on Sandfish (Holothuria scabra). Artisanal farmers erect intertidal pen enclosures across muddy sand flats sheltered from open waves. The pens are built of 1-meter high polyethylene mesh netting (10mm mesh size) supported by mangrove timber stakes. The bottom lead-line of the net is buried 30cm deep into the anaerobic silt and secured with sandbags to prevent sea cucumbers from burrowing beneath fences. Hatchery-reared juveniles (20g) are stocked at 2 to 3 individuals per square meter, grazing on benthic organic detritus.