die-off

Help Protect Sea urchins

Help us track sea urchin health in the Caribbean by adding your observations of healthy, sick or dead urchins. These reports will allow us to determine the causes and work on restoration approaches. You can report your sightings by visiting the AGRRA website (https://www.agrra.org/sea-urchin-die-off/)

The causative agent of the urchin deaths is not known but may be water-borne and may spread through contact. Pathogens can survive on snorkel/dive gear. To potentially help reduce the spread of pathogens, snorkelers and divers can:

– Have good buoyancy and don’t touch any urchins or other reef life.

– Rent gear locally.

– Decontaminate dive gear after each dive.

– Dive on clean sites before (known) infected sites

All divers should use caution to not further spread this potential disease. Never touch any healthy, sick or dead sea urchins, as you could be spreading the disease. Be mindful and careful about your gear and fins, in order to avoid any touching or stirring up sediment.

Special Diadema BioNews Edition Navigation

• Introduction
• Background and Current State
• Restoration Efforts
• What you can do to help

Long-spined sea urchins (Diadema antillarum) play a critical role in maintaining healthy coral reefs.  By grazing on algae, these sea urchins keep algae growth in check while also providing settlement space for corals. Unfortunately, this species was decimated in the mid-1980s, when a disease spread throughout the Caribbean, nearly wiping out their entire population.  Alarmingly, since February 2022, new reports identify similar extensive die-offs. Scientists and local reef managers are working to identify causes and improve restoration approaches.

In this Special Issue Bionews  you will find information concerning:

• • Background and Current State
  • Restoration Efforts
  • What you can do to help
  • Other related articles (see below)

Dead and dying long-spined sea urchins. Photo credit: Kimani Kitson-Walters