This pilot project aims to trial workflows to reduce purple urchin densities across a 1 acre site at San Miguel Island and mobilize markets for the urchin harvested. The project includes analysis of how to grow the regional supply chains for purple urchin products, including ranched culinary formats, compost, mulch and soil amendments, as well as possible animal feeds. Modeled from efforts in Mendocino, commercial sea urchin divers strategically harvest urchin from urchin dense locations to catalyze kelp growth. This project highlights and focuses on the opportunity for collaboration between scientists, fishermen, seafood industry and the greater blue economy.

Read about the project in the Santa Barbara Independent.

See the year 1 results in our presentation for the Eastern Pacific Kelp Congress symposium.

Project partners include:

• Commercial Fishermen of Santa Barbara

• The Nature Conservancy

• The Caselle Lab at the Marine Science Institute, UCSB

• The Bay Foundation

• Get Hooked Seafood

• The Cultured Abalone Farm

• Santa Barbara City College & The Ocean Collective