Tropical sea cucumber fisheries are generally traditional, small-scale, multispecies and poorly managed. Many recent studies have improved our knowledge on the biology and ecology of the commercially important species; the main results are analysed and the remaining gaps discussed. The fisheries and the patterns of trade changes during the last decade are presented from the data available and confirm overexploitation in the traditional Indian Ocean and West Pacific countries and territories. Several Latino-American countries now have active fisheries. Despite the management and conservation issues which have recently received more attention at international, regional and national levels, more measures are still needed at all these levels, to ensure sustainable exploitations of these resources.