<
https://theconversation.com/can-we-eat-our-way-through-an-exploding-sea-urchin-problem-214389>
"Longspined sea urchins are native to temperate waters around New South Wales.
But as oceans heat up, their range has expanded more than 650km, through
eastern Victoria and south to Tasmania. Their numbers are exploding in the
process, clear-felling kelp forests and leaving “urchin barrens” behind.
The species (
Centrostephanus rodgersii) is now the single largest and most
urgent threat to kelp forests along the southeastern coast of Australia’s Great
Southern Reef.
What can we do? Here’s one excellent solution: eat their roe, a buttery
delicacy that can fetch hundreds of dollars per kilogram. Tasmania already has
a government-backed urchin fishery. When combined with a mix of other tools, as
outlined in our submission to the invasive marine species Senate inquiry,
harvesting urchins can put the brakes on this overabundant, range-extending
marine species.
Today, the Senate handed down its findings, identifying investment in
commercial harvesting as a frontline climate-ready tool to combat the urchin.
It presents a win-win opportunity by maximising socioeconomic and environmental
returns for kelp ecosystems, while lessening the ongoing cost of control."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
