海參對於維持健康的海洋生態非常重要。牠們會食用海洋沉積物來保持海底清潔並有助珊瑚生長。 海參的繁殖率低，東亞及東南亞食品市場對牠們的需求高，再加上過度捕撈問題持續增加，對大堡礁的海參造成很大的影響及威脅。
sea cucumbers are critical for healthy ocean ecosystem as they consume ocean sediments and keep the seafloor clean and support coral growth. The sea cucumbers in the Great Barrier Reef are at risk because of high value in East and Southeast Asia’s food markets. They have poor reproduction rate and the over harvesting number continues to increase.
