Thesis, Undergraduate (BS Agribusiness Economics) --University of the Philippines Mindanao

The net margins and value chain analyses of the sea cucumber trade were conducted through case study analysis, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. The three case studies that were analyzed included a gleaner who sells her harvested fresh sea cucumbers to local buyer 1; a fisherman who gathers sea cucumber through skin diving (de mano), who then sells his catch to local buyer 3; and a diver who uses air compressor in gathering fresh sea cucumbers, who then sells his catch to local buyer 2. Without the cost of own labor, local buyers 1 and 2 earned the highest net margins, both in the high and low catch months respectively. The higher net margins earned by the buyers are justifiable because of the higher risks they face such as deduction in the gross weight of poorly dried product called trepang. The value adding in the supply chain is done by the local buyers and traders through the processing and re-processing of trepang. This study recommends the following: (a) local buyers need to improve their processing techniques to lessen rejection rate; (b) the traders should standardize product quality and observe on-time deliveries to institutional buyers and outlets in order to improve efficiency; and (c) the players need to set some policies and regulations to protect and conserve the natural stock in the wild.