Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis
Illustration of green sea urchin by Tom Crestodina
Wild-Caught
Gear
Dive
Location(s)
WA

Green sea urchins live in sheltered and exposed kelp beds and rocky areas from Alaska to Puget Sound in Washington. They live in rocky bottom areas from the intertidal to 3,000 feet. Green urchins are particularly adept at living in low-salinity areas, which allows them to thrive in the brackish waters of Washington's Puget Sound. Growing to two to three inches in diameter, they are encased by many one-inch-long spines. Green sea urchins feed on large algae such as bull kelp and green algae and also scrape algae off of rocks. When sea urchin populations increase dramatically, they are capable of decimating kelp forests. Sea stars, crab and otters are common predators of green sea urchin. 

Overall availability

Green sea urchins are fished in Washington and are available fall through spring. Green sea urchin are typically sold live at local markets. While the commercial green sea urchin market initially began as an export market to Japan, today there is also demand for green sea urchin in US markets. 

activity wheel for green sea urchin that depicts monthly activity levels (peak, low, closed)

 

Management

Green sea urchins are fished by hand by commercial divers. The fishery is co-managed by the state (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife) and Treaty Tribes such as the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community and Tulalip Tribes.