34 SEPTEMBER 2019 / TRAVELANDLEISUREASIA.COM
COURTESY OF THE ANDAMAN (2)CONSERVATION
they break down debris in oceans
and play an important role in
recycling nutrients back into the food
chain. The stichopus horrens, or
golden sea cucumber species (not to
be confused with the holothurian
scabra, or sandfish species that is
harvested for food in other Malaysian
states) common in Langkawi is
particularly prized for its healing
properties—cuts, ulcers, toothaches,
whatever—making it the backbone
of an extremely lucrative industry
producing everything from oils to
toothpaste. Factory tours are touted
as a must for visitors, with gamat
creams the default kitschy souvenirs.
So profitable is the scavenger that
in 2017, more than 500 kilograms of
illegally fished gamats were seized
off the northeastern Kelantan coast
from foreign vessels. Authorities
then estimated their sale price inHOLDING 10-CENTIMETER, lumpy
invertebrates is not my favorite
pastime. And when it’s a greyish
yellow sea cucumber starting to
drape itself over my hand, I abandon
all dignity and squeal in the highest
pitch possible. Someone hastily
plucks it off my pa lm lest t he
creature die from trauma, instead of
finding new life in the sea. We’re
both attending the launch of The
Andaman, a Luxury Collection
Resort, Langkawi’s Gamat
Regeneration Project.
With their unfortunate
resemblance to slugs, sea
cucumbers—known as gamats in
peninsular Malaysia—are hardly
poster kids for marine conservation,
unlike, say, cute turtles, vibrant
corals and magnificent sharks.
But their CV is not to be sniffed at.
A cousin of starfish and sea urchins,Cool As Cucumbers
Faced with a rapidly dwindling gamat, or sea cucumber, population,
The Andaman hotel in Langkawi takes the lead to regenerate them.
Grace Ma gets into the action.The beautiful
Datai Bay.In the palm of
your hand: a
regenerated
sea cucumber.