Sea urchin
Commercial sea urchin fishery
Victoria’s commercial sea urchin fishery targets two species: the black (long-spined) sea urchin (Centrostephanus rodgersii) and white (or purple) sea urchin (Heliocidaris erythrogramma) and primarily operates in Port Phillip Bay and along the coastline of eastern Victoria. The commercial fishery has a long history, operating under various forms of exploratory and developing fishery permits until 2014 when the Port Phillip Bay and Eastern Zone regions were transitioned to a licensed fishery.
Sea urchins are harvested using hand collection methods while diving and therefore the fishing activity is considered very low impact on the surrounding environment.
Management arrangements
The fishery has been divided into four management zones, however, commercial fishing is currently only undertaken in the Port Phillip Bay Zone and Eastern Zone. White sea urchins are harvested in both zones and quota managed under a conservative Total Allowable Commercial Catch(TACC) to ensure long-term sustainability of the resource. Black sea urchins are only harvested in the Eastern Zone and due to their high abundance, catch is currently unlimited.
Management Feature | Description |
|---|---|
Target Species | White sea urchin (Heliocidaris erythrogramma) Black, long-spined sea urchin (Centrostephanus rodgersii) |
Geographical context & management zones | Waters adjacent to Victoria (State coastal waters only, with exclusions to apply) |
Fishing year | 1 July to 30 June |
Fishery Access Licence | The number of licences for the fishery is not capped Licences are not transferable In additional to the licence holder, up to 8 operators (who may also be divers) may be listed on the licence |
Catch limits | Black, long-spined sea urchin (Centrostephanus rodgersii)
White sea urchin (Heliocidaris erythrogramma)
A licence must have a minimum quota holding of 20 ITQ units to be considered an active fishing licence. |
Reporting | Real-time catch and effort is recorded via a smartphone application (known as the Fishermobile app) Catch and effort reporting is undertaken both at sea (effort and location recorded at sea) and at the point of landing where catch is weighed and recorded Catch must be weighed and reported at the place of landing within 1 hour of landing Catch Disposal Records must be completed and are used track the flow of catch to the point of sale |
History of the fishery
The Victorian Sea Urchin Fishery began in 1985 in Mallacoota, when divers were permitted to take sea urchins under an experimental fishing permit. In 1998, the fishery was established as a developing fishery, with divers still requiring a permit. In 2014, the fishery transitioned to quota management, whereby catch is limited to the TACC set annually. Additionally, the management of the Sea Urchin Fishery was restructured into zones, with licence holders assigned to either the Eastern or Port Phillip Bay zones. Licence holders are not permitted to fish outside of the zone specified on their licence. Those wishing to fish in the Central or Western Zone still only require a permit.
More recently black sea urchins have had a surge in abundance and extension of their range throughout southeastern Australia. To facilitate maximised harvest of black urchins, the Victorian Government removed the species from the quota management arrangement effective from 1 July 2024. At the same time the recreational bag limit was also removed for the species.
For further information please contact:
Candice Harwood, Fishery Manager: candice.harwood@vfa.vic.gov.au