Local expertise meets global science:
the first complete genome of endangered sea cucumber advances marine conservation in Galápagos
the first complete genome of endangered sea cucumber advances marine conservation in Galápagos
Galapagos, Ecuador, 4 February, 2026 | Scientists have completed the first full genetic map of the endangered brown sea cucumber, a breakthrough that provides powerful new tools to protect the species and manage its recovery in a rapidly changing ocean. The study, published in the journal Scientific Data, represents a major step forward for marine conservation in Galápagos and across the Eastern Tropical Pacific.
The research was led by Jaime Ortiz, a Galápagos native and PhD candidate at Cornell University, in collaboration with scientists from the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF), with support from a Revive & Restore grant. It delivers the first complete, high-quality genome for an endangered sea cucumber anywhere in the world.
“For me, this work is deeply personal,” said Jaime Ortiz, lead author of the study. “By assembling the genome of the brown sea cucumber, we now have a detailed picture of how this species functions at a molecular level. This allows us to study genetic diversity, adaptation, and resilience in ways that were simply not possible before, and to use that knowledge to support long-term conservation, for the benefit of both nature and the people who depend on it.”
Billy Bensted-Smith/CDF
An important fishing resource in Galapagos
The brown sea cucumber (Isostichopus fuscus) plays a critical role in marine ecosystems by recycling nutrients on the seafloor and providing critical protective benefits to coral reefs, helping maintain healthy ocean habitats. It is also economically important, supporting a global market worth around USD 3 million annually, with most of the product exported to China. After decades of overfishing along the Pacific coast from Mexico to Ecuador, populations collapsed across much of the species’ range.
In Galápagos, wild brown sea cucumbers are legally harvested under a strictly regulated artisanal fishing system. This approach is guided by science and continuous monitoring, and fishing is only permitted when populations have recovered sufficiently.
Juan Manuel García
Juan Manuel García
Juan Manuel García
From data to conservation action
What makes this new study especially important is how it strengthens conservation and management beyond traditional monitoring. The annotated, chromosome-level genome allows scientists and managers to track genetic diversity across populations, detect early signs of stress linked to overfishing or climate change, and identify areas where populations may be at risk. This information can be used to set fishing limits informed not only by population size, but also by genetic diversity and adaptive potential.
This reference genome provides a foundation for evidence-based recovery and restocking. By identifying genetic differences associated with survival, growth, and environmental tolerance, managers can prioritize individuals and populations most likely to survive, adapt, and persist over the long term—improving the chances of successful population recovery.
“Science-based models are essential for making informed decisions about marine resources,” said Jorge Ramírez, Co-Principal Investigator of the Sustainable Fisheries Program at the Charles Darwin Foundation. “Genetic tools like this genome allow us to move from short-term indicators to a deeper understanding of population health. Just as importantly, this science supports collaborative management with fishing communities, helping create solutions that work for both people and nature.”
Joshua Vela
From a management perspective, the study strengthens the scientific foundation that supports sustainable use in Galápagos.
“The recovery of the brown sea cucumber is a shared priority for the Galápagos Marine Reserve,” said Gonzalo Sevilla of the Galápagos National Park Directorate. “Galápagos has shown that it is possible to protect an endangered species while supporting artisanal fisheries, when decisions are guided by solid science and taken together with and for the community that depends on them. This genome provides an additional important tool to better understand population resilience and to support responsible, long-term management.”
Building the future of ocean conservation
This collaboration between scientists from the Charles Darwin Foundation and genomics experts at Cornell University marks the beginning of a new, genomics-driven approach to managing threatened marine species. Rather than relying on limited DNA markers, conservation decisions can now be informed by complete genomic evidence (the entire DNA code). The tools developed through this study provide a framework that can be applied to other at-risk marine species in the Eastern Tropical Pacific and beyond.
Only eight of more than 1,800 known sea cucumber species worldwide have complete genome maps. This study provides the only high-quality genetic reference for an endangered sea cucumber, making it a valuable resource for conservation efforts far beyond the Galápagos Islands. The tools and approaches developed through this research can be applied to other threatened marine species facing similar pressures from overfishing and climate change.
Billy Bensted-Smith/CDF
The study is published as open access in Scientific Data, a peer-reviewed journal in the Nature family, making this genomic resource freely available to researchers, managers, and decision-makers worldwide: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-025-06422-6. Open access publication was made possible with financial support from the Charles Darwin Foundation, reflecting its commitment to open science and to sharing knowledge that strengthens conservation efforts globally.
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About the Charles Darwin Foundation
The Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galápagos Islands (CDF) is an international non-profit organization that has operated in Galapagos since 1959 under a special agreement with the Government of Ecuador. Its mission, and that of its Research Station, is to address the greatest threats and challenges facing Galapagos through scientific research and conservation actions, to protect one of the world’s most important natural treasures. Today CDF supports more than 25 research, conservation, and education projects across land and sea, and is the custodian of over 137,000 specimens in its Natural History Collections. Its diverse team of more than 140 scientists, educators, and support staff is composed primarily of Ecuadorian citizens, with over 60% from Galápagos.
For more information, please visit: www.darwinfoundation.org