Sea urchin fisheries and potential ecological interactions with a kina fishery in Fiordland

Sea urchin fisheries and potential interactions with a kina fishery in Fiordland. Summary This report summarises information on the world's major sea urchin fisheries and assesses potential ecological interactions with a kina (Evecbinus cbloroticus) fishery in Fiordland. The world's production of sea urchins was estimated to be approximately 117 000 t (whole animal wet weight) in 1995. Production is dominated by the Chilean fishery of Loxechinus albus, with a harvest of approximately 54 609 t in 1995. Sea urchin fisheries have a poor record of sustainability. With the exception of Chile, for which there is little available information, all the major sea urchin fisheries are in decline or have collapsed. There is little information available on the interactions between kina, its predators and competitors in Fiordland. Although a wide range of fish and invertebrate predators consume kina, there is no evidence that any of these species control or limit populations of kina in Fiordland. Similarly, kina compete with a range of invertebrate herbivores, most notable paua (Haliotis iris), but there is no evidence that these interactions are of sufficient magnitude to limit populations of kina. There is no evidence that kina limit populations of paua or crayfish (Jasus edwardsii) i n Fiordland, although information from elsewhere in New Zealand and overseas suggests that high densities of sea urchins may negatively impact on abalone populations.