Book excerpt: This publication contains current information on the status of world sea cucumber resources and use, focusing on established countries such as China, Ecuador, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia and the Philippines, as well as relative newcomers to the sector such as Cuba, Egypt, Madagascar and Tanzania. Issues discussed include technical advances in artificial reproduction and farming of selected commercial species; and the report includes the recommendations of a FAO workshop on cucumber aquaculture and management, held in China, in October 2003.