This paper reports for the first time the presence of Holothuria (Roweothuria) arguinensis in the Algerian coastal waters. Individuals of this species were taken from the Tamentefoust area (Bay of Algiers, Algeria, 3°13′E 36°48′N) at 4.5 m depth and examined, using traditional morphological and endoskeletal characters. The general body form and the ossicles are in accordance with the descriptions of the species obtained in the literature.

This work presents records of two endobenthic species of sea cucumber (Holothuroidea: Echinodermata) not previously reported in Canadian waters. Thyone inermis (Dendrochirotida) and Labidoplax buskii (Apodida) were collected south-west of Nova Scotia (eastern Canada) in 2009 in Georges and Crowell Basins in the upper 2 cm of muddy seafloor at upper bathyal depths (240–370 m). Both species are of small size, 3.7–8 mm and 5–8 mm long, respectively.

The sea cucumber Holothuria (Theelothuria) notabilis for the first time is reported from the Beibu Gulf, South China Sea. A morphological description of this new record with colour figures and scanning electron microcopy images of its ossicles are provided. This finding widens the geographical range of H. (T.) notabilis and indicates that this species may expand northwards in the South China Sea. With our new record, the subgenus theelothuria is now represented by three species in China.

Although sea cucumber is commercially important, its biology, ecology and dynamic of population have not been known yet in the Persian Gulf. With this respect, this study has been conducted to identify the species present around Hengam Island in the Persian Gulf. Six species of sea cucumber (four species belonging to the genus Holothuria and another two species belonging to the genus Stichopus) were collected on the sub-tidal zone of Hengam Island (Persian Gulf) via SCUBA diving at depths of 5–15 m in March–July 2012. The species identification was made using morphological keys and review of their ossicles.

Holothuria arguinensis is reported for the first time on the south-eastern Spanish coast. One specimen of this species was identified in El Mojón (Alicante, Spain, 37°50′54.17″N 0°45′39.90″W). This finding widens the geographical range of H. arguinensis and demonstrates that its environmental requirements are changing. Future genetic studies in this species would allow us to improve our understanding of its colonization from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea.

The sea cucumber fishery has been providing an important means of livelihood to the coastal fishing communities in Sri Lanka for centuries. Stock status, level of exploitation and mortality parameters of eleven commercial sea cucumber species were studied off the north-west and the east coasts of Sri Lanka using data collected from an underwater visual census and fishery-dependent surveys carried out in 2008 and 2009. The total abundance of sea cucumbers was higher in the north-west than the east (P < 0.01). However, the total abundance of all the species declined between 2008 and 2009. The commercial fishery predominantly relies on two nocturnal species: Holothuria spinifera and Thelenota anax. Holothuria spinifera had the highest contribution (73.2%) to the total landings in the north-west while this was provided by T. anax (93%) in the east. Both catch per unit effort and total landings declined in 2009 compared to 2008 having three exceptions (H. spinifera, Holothuria atra and Stichopus chloronotus) in the north-west. Further, the collection of immature individuals, reduced landings of high-value species and temporal shifting of fishing activities were observed in both areas. Two approaches (simple linear regression and random effects models) were used to estimate the natural mortality of sea cucumbers and the estimated values were 0.50 yr−1 and 0.45 yr−1, respectively. Apart from the management of local sea cucumber resources, this information is important to update the regional and global sea cucumber statistics as well as for launching regional management programmes.