Sea cucumber is getting the wrong kind of attention

Its ultimate fate sounds like something that can only be described as an "acquired taste."

In Japan and Korea the gutted body wall of beche-de-mer is consumed raw or pickled, and a specialised range of products are produced from the gonad, respiratory trees and viscera.

Konowata, the fermented or pickled guts or intestines and Kuchiko, the prepared and dried sea cucumber gonads, are considered a delicacy.

Konowata is used in Japan as a snack with drinks and is sold in small glass jars.