ABSTRACT
The red sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus franciscanus, fishery began in British Columbia during 1970 and grew rapidly since 1979 to about 3645 t (Can. $1.63 million) by 1989. Increasing demand for sea urchin roe has also encouraged a developing fishery for the green sea urchin, S. droebachiensis, which started in 1987 with about 570 t landed (Can $0.99 million) in 1989. A minor fishery for the purple sea urchin, S. purpuratus, began in early 1990. Experimental management includes a variety of strategies from area and season closures, landing quotas, size limits and limited entry diving licences. Recruitment of the red sea urchin is variable causing some areas to be more commercially productive than others. The mobile fishing fleet can however find areas of sea urchin stocks which are relatively unfished, but processing capability is limiting the growth of the fishery in remote areas. Changes to minimum and maximum size limits for red sea urchins are being considered to improve roe size and optimize recruitment.
