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Shortspined Sea Urchin (2023)

Heliocidaris erythrogramma

  • John Keane (Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania)
  • Justin Bell (Victorian Fisheries Authority)
  • Rowan C. Chick (New South Wales Department of Primary Industries)
  • Katherine Heldt (South Australian Research and Development Institute)
  • Lachlan Strain (Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia)
  • Katie Cresswell (Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania)

Date Published: June 2023

You are currently viewing a report filtered by jurisdiction. View the full report.

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Summary

There are five stocks of Shortspined Sea Urchin in Australia. Two stocks are classified as Sustainable, one is Undefined and two are Negligible.

Photo credit: Matt Testoni

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Stock Status Overview

Stock status determination
Jurisdiction Stock Stock status Indicators
South Australia South Australia Undefined
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Stock Structure

The Shortspined Sea Urchin, Heliocidaris erythrogramma,is endemic to Australia and distributed along protected or moderate energy rocky reefs and seagrass beds in temperate and sub-tropical waters from Western Australia to southern Queensland and around Tasmania [Kailola et al. 1993; Williamson 2015; Keesing 2020]. Two subspecies of the Shortspined Sea Urchin have been identified, H. erythrogramma erythrogramma and H. erythrogramma armigera, with the latter occuring in Western Australia [Binks et al. 2011]. Commercial catches of only H. erythrogramma erythrogramma have been reported. 

The Shortspined Sea Urchin can be found to depths of 35 m, but is most abundant in shallow waters < 20m in bays and estuaries, sometimes forming barrens [Pederson and Johnson 2008; Bell et al. 2023]. Lower abundances are observed in highly exposed sites, such as those along the southern and south-west coasts of Tasmania that are dominated by bull kelp habitat [Keesing 2020]. Shortspined Sea Urchins have a hard shell (test) surrounding the soft tissue (such as the dermis, podia, pedicellariae, and gonads), pointed primary spines (10–25 mm in length) and blunt secondary spines [Kailola et al. 1993]. The test diameter is generally < 90mm [Clark 1946] but in Tasmania larger individuals have been recorded up to 125mm test diameter (Growns & Ritz 1994). The Shortspined Sea Urchin has a short pelagic larval duration of three to five days and has limited dispersal capacity [Williams and Anderson 1975]. Significant population differentiation occurs at spatial scales of 1000 kms or less, with differences in mtDNA genotypes between central New South Wales (Sydney and Jervis Bay), Victoria (Port Phillip Bay) and Tasmania (Hobart) [McMillan et al. 1992].

Given the knowledge regarding stock structure and different jurisdictional management objectives, this species is assessed here at the jurisdictional level—New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.

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Stock Status

South Australia

South Australia’s commercial catch of Shortspined Sea Urchin over the past 19 years (2003–04 to 2022–23) has averaged less than 8.5 t per annum, and the species is not a major component of recreational landings. There is no published assessment of this species, and there are no data available to estimate biomass or exploitation rates. In addition, there is no knowledge on recruitment or harvestable biomass, and there are no defined target or limit reference levels. This prevents assessment of current stock size or fishing pressure. Consequently, there is insufficient information available to confidently classify the status of this stock.

On the basis of the evidence provided above, the South Australia Fishery management unit for this species is classified as an undefined stock.

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Biology

Shortspined Sea Urchin biology. [Keesing 2020]

Biology
Species Longevity / Maximum Size Maturity (50 per cent)
Shortspined Sea Urchin

20-30 years, max length 125 mm

 23 years

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Distributions

Distribution of reported commercial catch of Shortspined Sea Urchin.

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Tables

Fishing methods
South Australia
Commercial
Unspecified
Indigenous
Hand
Recreational
Hand
Management methods
Method South Australia
Commercial
Licence
Trigger limits
Indigenous
Native Title
Recreational
Bag/boat limits
Catch
South Australia
Indigenous Unknown
Recreational Unknown

New South Wales – Indigenous (Management Methods). https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/aboriginal-fishing

Tasmania – Living Marine Resources Management Act 1995https://www.legislation.tas.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-1995-025

Victoria – Indigenous (Management Methods). A person who identifies as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander is exempt from the need to obtain a Victorian recreational fishing licence, provided they comply with all other rules that apply to recreational fishers, including rules on equipment, catch limits, size limits and restricted areas. Traditional (non-commercial) fishing activities that are carried out by members of a traditional owner group entity under an agreement pursuant to Victoria’s Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010 are also exempt from the need to hold a recreational fishing licence, subject to any conditions outlined in the agreement. Native title holders are also exempt from the need to obtain a recreational fishing licence under the provisions of the Commonwealth’s Native Title Act 1993.

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Catch Chart

Commercial catch of Shortspined Sea Urchin - note confidential catch not shown.

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References

  1. Bell, JD, Ingram, BA, Gorfine, HK and Conron SD 2023, Review of key Victorian fish stocks — 2022, Victorian Fisheries Authority Science Report Series No. 38, First Edition, June 2023. VFA: Queenscliff. 146pp.
  2. Binks, RM, Evans, JP and Prince, J 2011, Fine-scale patterns of genetic divergence within and between morphologically variable subspecies of the sea urchin Heliocidaris erythrogramma (Echinometridae). Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 103, 578–592.
  3. Dix, TG 1977, Reproduction in Tasmanian populations of Heliocidaris erythrogramma (Echinodermata: Echinometridae). Marine and Freshwater Research, 28(4), pp.509-520.
  4. Growns, JE and Ritz, DA 1994, Colour variation in southern Tasmania populations of Heliocidaris erythrogramma (Echinometridae: Echinoidea). Marine and Freshwater Research, 45(2), pp.233-242.
  5. Hayward, P 2013, Invasive opportunities and Eco-culinary activism: The harvesting, marketing and consumption of Tasmanian Sea Urchins. Locale: The Australasian-Pacific Journal of Regional Food Studies, 3, 71 – 90.
  6. Kailola, PJ, Williams, MJ, Stewart, PC, Reichelt, RE, McNee, A and Grieve, C 1993, Australian Fisheries Resources. Canberra: Bureau of Resource Sciences. 422 pp
  7. Keesing, JK 2020, Sea Urchins: in Lawrence, JM (ed.) 2020, Biology and Ecology. Fourth Edition, Vol. 43.Elsevier.
  8. McMillan, WO, Raff, RA, Palumbi, SR 1992, Population genetic consequences of developmental evolution in sea urchins (Genus Heliocidaris). Evolution 46, 1299–1312.
  9. Pederson, HG and Johnson, CR 2008, Growth and age structure of sea urchins (Heliocidaris erythrogramma) in complex barrens and native macroalgal beds in eastern Tasmania. ICES J. Mar. Sci. 65, 1–11.
  10. PIRSA 2017, Policy for the management of the South Australian Commercial Miscellaneous Dive Fisheries activities. Government of South Australia 2017. Adelaide, South Australia. 23pp
  11. Williams, DHC and Anderson, DT 1975, The reproductive system, embryonic development, larval development and metamorphosis of the sea urchin Heliocidaris erythrogramma (Val.) (Echinodermata: Echinoidea). Aust. J. Zool. 23, 371–403.
  12. Williamson, JE 2015, Sea urchin aquaculture in Australia. Echinoderm aquaculture, pp.225-243.

Downloadable reports

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