Urchin Fishing Industry Struggles Amid Seaweed Crisis

In Ensenada, B.C., the red sea urchin fishing season is experiencing significant difficulties. The scarcity of Sargassum seaweed, a primary food source for the urchins, has led to a substantial decrease in catches, according to Moisés Meza Villarino, a member of the Buzos y Pescadores del Ejido Coronel Esteban Cantú fishing cooperative.

While the urchin population remains stable due to careful adherence to size and quota guidelines set by the Regional Fisheries Research Centre (CRIP), the quality of the urchins has been adversely affected by the seaweed shortage.

The current catch of red sea urchin has dropped to an average of 50 to 60 kilos of raw material, yielding a minimal 4 to 7%. In comparison, the CRIP suggests a favorable yield should be at least 10%. In previous years, catches ranged from 175 to 200 kilos of raw material.

The cooperative, composed of 39 members, is primarily focused on urchin fishing. With a fleet of 12 boats, the group employs 36 individuals directly, with an additional 150 families indirectly reliant on the industry. This includes those working in processing plants and food vendors, among others.

In response to the Sargassum shortage, the cooperative has received significant assistance from the Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC). Students studying Oceanology and Biology have initiated small-scale experimental cultivation projects to transplant the Sargassum seaweed.