Sea Urchin and Turban Shell Restricted Fishery

What's New

DPI Fisheries has supported an adjustment to allow authorised fishers to take Purple Sea Urchin (Centrostephanus rodgersii) within Sea Urchin and Turban Shell closures (described under clause 140 of the Fisheries Management (General) Regulation 2019) from 01 January 2022.

Fisheries Management (Purple Sea Urchin Spatial Restriction) Order 2022

Note: This order does not authorise harming (or attempting to harm) Purple Sea Urchin in a marine park or an aquatic reserve contrary to any regulations or instruments made under the Marine Estate Management Act 2014.

Fact sheets

Fact sheets are available to outline key management and reporting arrangements for the Sea Urchin and Turban Shell Restricted Fishery.

Sea Urchin &Turban Shell Fishery

In Australia, commercial fishing for sea urchins occurs in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia. The taking of turban shell commercially is mainly restricted to NSW waters. The NSW Sea Urchin and Turban Shell (SUTS) restricted fishery is relatively small with few divers participating. The main constraint on development in NSW at this time is high processing costs and limited domestic markets.

There are currently 37 fishing businesses containing sea urchin and turban shell endorsements, and some business owners also hold endorsements in other NSW commercial fisheries.

Sea urchin species commonly taken in NSW

Most commercial fishers dive for sea urchins and turban shells using surface supplied compressed air (hookah). Because the catch is taken manually, there is no by-catch of other species.

Turban shell species commonly taken in NSW

Fishing for sea urchins is generally undertaken when the roe is well developed. Purple urchins are harvested primarily from October to March when the quality of their roe is best. Red urchins have an extended spawning period (from February to October) and specimens with firm roe of marketable volume and quality are found year round. Turban shells are harvested year round for their fleshy foot. A minimum legal length of shell has been set for the Sydney turban snail (Turbo torquatus) and Military turban snail (Turbo militaris).

Internal anatomy of a sea urchin showing the skeins of roe (or uni), which is the primary product in the sea urchin fishery

A number of the fishing sub-regions have been closed to commercial SUTS fishing since 1994 to provide reference points for stock assessment purposes and as refugia. Following concerns about potential over harvesting, a total allowable commercial catch for red sea urchins of 60 tonnes per year has been in effect since 2002.

Total Allowable Commercial Catch for Red Sea Urchin

A Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) for Red Urchin is set each year by the statutory and independent Total Allowable Fishing Committee. The TACC is proportionately allocated to each fishing business holding a sea urchin endorsement in the fishery.

A TAC of 9.5 tonnes has been set for the 2024 fishing period (1 January to 31 December 2024) and the 2025 fishing period (1 January to 31 December 2025) as determined by the Total Allowable Fishing Committee. The Committee’s Report and Determination contains further details regarding assessment and the determination.

Download the Total Allowable Fishing Committee Report and Determination 2024 and 2025 (PDF, 182.07 KB)

Regional catch and size limits for red sea urchins

Regional catch limits and a commercial minimum size limit commenced in October 2019 to promote sustainable harvest and to reduce the risk of localised depletion of red sea urchin stocks.

Regional catch limits are in place for each calendar year fishing period. Regional limits have been recommended by the independent Total Allowable Fishing Committee under the determination of Total Allowable Catch for red sea urchin.

Region

Regional catch limit 2023 (t)

1 (Tweed Heads to Newcastle)

1.18

2 (Newcastle to Currarong)

2.45

3 (Currarong to Brush Island)

3.06

4 (Brush Island Montague Island)

2.81

5 (Montague Island to Cape Howe)

0.0

Catches will be monitored, and fishing will cease for the remainder of the fishing period in regions where the limit has been reached. No regional closures are currently in effect.

A minimum commercial size limit is in place to prohibit harvest of red sea urchins with a maximum test diameter of less than 95 mm. Maximum test diameter means the maximum diameter of the sea urchin when measured along its longest axis, disregarding any spines. This measure will contribute to protecting juvenile red urchin from harvest.

Red Sea Urchin Industry Catch Survey

This survey is being undertaken to gather data about the size of animals in the fishery and within subzones to inform fishery assessments and operation of the 95 mm commercial Legal Minimum Length (LML).

This survey will collect data to inform fishery assessments, TAC determinations, and together with information on size at maturity will support development of a biologically and economically appropriate LML for Red Sea Urchins in NSW. Further information is provided below.

Information Paper & Data Sheet – Red Sea Urchin Industry Catch Survey (PDF, 510.48 KB)

Data Sheet only – Red Sea Urchin Industry Catch Survey (DOCX, 28.9 KB)

Contact

For further information contact the Sea Urchin and Turban Shell Restricted Fishery Manager on (02) 6691 9685.

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