Conclusion

Sea cucumbers are being illegally extracted without regard for the ecological consequences, similar to the colonial mindset of resource extraction for economic profit without care for the indigenous population and environment. 

Of all 377 species of Aspirochirotida sea cucumbers, 16 are of threatened status for extinction. Above is the illegal catch of a Moroccan diver who does so because of the sea cucumber's high demand, similar to the many Chinese natives who illegally catch and smuggle sea cucumber out of Morocco's fast-depleting stocks.

Arbitrary territorial lines exacerbate over-exploitation of sea cucumber as no regulations are able to be established and followed by the fishermen who continue to deplete these resources. 

The Spratly Islands in the South China Sea is a main point of contention for China, Vietnam and the Philippines. In particular, Vietnamese fishermen whose primary fishing grounds were the Spratly Islands are being displaced to Australian waters in order to continue their sea cucumber trade, where the above picture is  from 2017, of a Vietnamese vessel with 7 tons of illegal sea cucumber packed within the barrels seen aboard.