Urchinomics is about turning an environmental challenge into an economic, ecologic and social opportunity. Brian Tsuyoshi Takeda, CEO & Founder of Urchinomics, explains how.


 

Follow California urchin divers Trent and Jonathan on a dive.

As ocean temperatures rise, purple sea urchins are proliferating and devouring kelp forests off the California and Oregon coasts, destroying rich marine ecosystems. One project aims to restore kelp forests by turning urchins into a delicacy.

 

Find out why California is an ideal location for us to prove how ecological restoration and commercial development of urchin ranching can work hand in hand.

Norwegian Fisheries Minister Harald Nesvik samples sea urchin roe for the first time and now has an iron clad belief that this new industry will provide big economic and environmental benefits.

 

Long spine sea urchins have a ferocious appetite. How do we stop them? The long spine sea urchin can have devastating impacts on reefs due to overgrazing, which creates expansive urchin barrens. This results in negative impacts on kelp beds and reef dependent species such as abalone, rock lobster and fish.

Sir David Attenborough is supporting a campaign to help save an important marine habitat. Kelp forests off the West Sussex coast are among the most biodiverse environments on the planet, but they have been damaged by changing fishing habits and the dumping of sediment on the seafloor.