[1] Sipunculus nudus is commonly found on subtidal zones of sandy shores to seabeds 900 metres (3,000 ft) deep in temperate or tropical waters worldwide.

[2] The species is collected and sold as a model organism for various fields of science, as fish bait, or for human consumption.

In particular, S. nudus is collected, cleaned of its innards, and eaten as a delicacy in the South Chinese provinces of Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, and Fujian.

"earth bamboo shoot") and is braised and allow to gel in the liquid as eaten as aspic (t 土笋凍, s 土笋冻, tǔsǔndòng) in local restaurants.

Sipunculus nudus is also collected on islands in the northern Vietnamese province of Quang Ninh where sá sùng (local pronunciation of 沙虫) is used as an ingredient for pho stock.