The Government has launched two joint initiatives in an effort to replenish the sea urchin’s population.
Sea urchins play a crucial role in the marine ecosystem by ensuring the survival of 18 different fish species. The absence of sea urchins at sea increases the risk of invasive alien species that negatively impact ecosystems. The sea urchin population in Maltese waters has significantly declined, placing them at risk of extinction.
In the first initiative, the Department of Aquaculture is implementing a restocking programme, where sea urchins will be cultivated and released into the seas to increase their population.
In the second initiative, a Legal Notice comes into effect today, imposing a two-year moratorium on the collection of sea urchins. This means collecting sea urchins will be illegal, and penalties will apply.
The law does not prohibit the importation of sea urchins. Restaurants and fish importers will be required to keep the necessary documentation to verify the origin of the catch in case of inspections.
Minister for the Environment, Energy, and Enterprise, Miriam Dalli and Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Animal Rights Alicia Bugeja Said visited the site where sea urchins are cultivated at Fort Sant Lucian.
The cultivation plan complements Malta’s Multiannual National Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture (2022-2030), emphasising the importance of diversification in aquaculture.
The implementation strategy involves several essential steps. Sea urchins held in captivity in labs will undergo a process to ensure optimal reproductive health. Throughout the project, their growth will be monitored, and detailed studies will be conducted on their nutrition and DNA analysis.
Minister Miriam Dalli explained that the Environmental and Resources Authority commissioned a study on Maltese waters, which determined that the amount of sea urchins in Maltese waters is at risk of extinction.
“This conservation measure is being adopted to ensure that the population of sea urchins in our local waters does not continue to decline. By the end of this moratorium, there should be a sustainable amount of sea urchins in our waters,” said Minister Dalli.
Parliamentary Secretary Alicia Bugeja Said explained, “with this process, sea urchins are collected from Maltese waters for restocking and then released again in our waters to ensure sustainability and food security. The labs at Fort Saint Lucian have been equipped with the appropriate temperature and lighting to prevent stress levels from rising.”
The Parliamentary Secretary continued explaining that two years ago, the Aquaculture Department noticed a decline in sea urchins in Maltese waters and proactively took the initiative to address this issue. “Through this initiative, we are not only addressing the decline in numbers but also conducting further scientific research on sea urchins to gather more information about this species,” concluded Parliamentary Secretary Bugeja Said.
