Linhua Zhang , Lingfei Jin

Institute of Life Science, Jiyang College of Zhejiang A&F University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
International Journal of Marine Science, 2026, Vol. 16, No. 1   
Received: 25 Dec., 2025    Accepted: 08 Feb., 2026    Published: 20 Feb., 2026

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Sea cucumber aquaculture has become an important sector of the marine farming industry due to the high nutritional and economic value of sea cucumbers. Among the various management practices, stocking density is recognized as one of the most critical factors affecting growth performance, survival, resource utilization, and production efficiency. This paper evaluates the effects of different stocking densities on sea cucumber growth by reviewing the biological characteristics of sea cucumbers, key factors influencing density determination, growth assessment indicators, and the physiological and ecological mechanisms associated with density-dependent responses. Particular attention is given to the interactions among stocking density, feeding behavior, environmental quality, and competitive pressure. The analysis indicates that moderate stocking densities generally promote optimal growth, higher survival rates, and efficient utilization of available resources, whereas excessively high densities may result in increased competition, environmental deterioration, physiological stress, and reduced growth performance. Conversely, excessively low densities may lead to underutilization of culture facilities and decreased production efficiency. A case study of practical sea cucumber farming further demonstrates the importance of density optimization in balancing economic returns and ecological sustainability. The findings highlight the necessity of adopting scientifically determined stocking densities according to culture conditions, developmental stages, and management objectives. This study provides a theoretical basis and practical guidance for improving sea cucumber culture productivity and supporting the sustainable development of the sea cucumber aquaculture industry.

Sea cucumber; Stocking density; Growth performance; Aquaculture management; Culture sustainability