Dr Nick Shears1, Kelsey Miller, Dallas Lafont, Justin Tibble
1Institute of Marine Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Sea urchins are a major driver of kelp forest loss in many temperate regions and sea urchin removal is increasingly being advocated as an approach to kelp forest restoration. In Aotearoa New Zealand dwindling kelp forests in some areas and high densities of the common barren-forming sea urchin (kina; Evechinus chloroticus) are increasingly recognised as a tohu (indicator) of the loss of mauri (life-force) on rocky reefs. However, kina are a taonga (treasured species) for Māori people, and both the poor roe condition of the kina and kina removal have clear cultural implications. In collaboration with local iwi, several sea urchin removal and translocation experiments are being carried out throughout Aotearoa aimed at examining how sea urchin density can be managed to restore kelp forests, associated ecosystem services, and enhance sea urchin roe quality for local communities. Large-scale sea urchin removal led to rapid recovery of kelp forests in urchin barrens where healthy kelp forests remain in close proximity, whereas in areas lacking nearby kelp, recovery is slow and more active restoration approaches are likely needed (and currently being trialled). Translocation of kina from barrens has also provided a smaller-scale approach to enhance the condition and densities of local kina resources in areas where they have been depleted. Our findings demonstrate how kina management and removal (translocation, harvest, culling) can be carried out in various ways with local communities to address different ecological and social goals, and provide wider insights for kelp forest restoration and management.
Biography:
Nick Shears is an Associate Professor in the University of Auckland’s Institute of Marine Science. His research focusses on understanding rocky reef ecosystems and how we can manage these ecosystems better in the future.
