URCHIN Utilisation of the Arctic Sea Urchin Resource

Project partners:• Nofima (Norway)• Matis (Iceland)• University of Highlands and Islands

NAFC / SAMS (Scotland)

Commercial partners:• Royal Greenland (Greenland)• Thirosholmi ehf (Iceland)• Arctic Caviar (Norway)

Associated Partner:• Holar University College (Iceland)

Future Partners?

Project Vision: To establish a sustainable, reliable and lucrative sea urchin fishery in the Northern Periphery and Arctic Area.

Priority Axis 1.1: Increased innovation and transfer of new technology to SME’s in remotely or sparely populated areas

Green Sea Urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis)

• World sea urchin fisheries declining for most species (overfishing)

• World demand for urchin products is increasing

• Increasing value

• Arctic area has huge untapped natural stocks of sea urchins

Norwegian example:

- 80 billion individual urchins - estimates between 50,000t and 150,000t harvestable quality urchins - excluding low quality

- Greater NPA area?

Value of project to NPA area

• S. droebachiensis is a very high value species• Wide distribution and biomass in NPA area• NPA area could become the largest supplier of

sea urchins in the world• Remote areas and harsh environmental

conditions present a number of challenges

Work Packages:

WP1: Fishing methods in Arctic areaWP2: Sustainable fisheries managementWP3: Roe enhancement of poor quality urchinsWP4: Holding and transportWP5: Marketing and distribution networksWP6: Legislation issuesWP7: Coordination of R & D and SME’s

Priority Axis 1.1: Increased innovation and transfer of new technology to SME’s in remotely or sparely populated areas