Could fine dining keep Tamania's reefs healthy?
Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, 10 Jul 2014.
Urchin eggs, or roe, are considered a delicacy in many countries. But harvesting Tasmania's pest urchins may wield more than fine dining around the world. Since 2009, commercial fishermen have harvested 600,000 urchins off north-eastern Tasmania. Will this industry help to control urchin populations from devastating Tasmania's reef ecosystems into unproductive ‘barrens’? A three year study at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) will determine the effectiveness of commercial fishing to control urchin numbers in Tasmania. Dr John Keane is leading the study from IMAS at the University of Tasmania. Read the full IMAS article here.
The long-spined sea urchin (Centrostephanus rodgersii) is devastating Tasmania's kelp forests and reef ecosystems, creating 'barrens' devoid of marine life. (Photo: Scott Ling).
