Developing an integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system for sea urchins in South Africa

The country's aquaculture industry is currently dominated by abalone, often farmed using IMTA, and other high-value species such as mussels, oysters and trout. Echinoculture – the farming of sea urchins – offers new possibilities. The project includes a team of three University of Cape Town (UCT)-affiliated researchers, who are looking into ways to raise sea urchin (Tripneustes gratilla). These are Emeritus Professor John Bolton and research associates Dr Mark Cyrus and Dr Brett Macey of the national Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE). According to a press release from UCT, the project will build on previous sea urchin aquaculture research by Dr Cyrus and the team that has successfully developed innovative hatchery and grow-out technologies. The IMTA process will be adapted to maximise sea urchin farming conditions. The popularity of urchin roe (known as “uni” and often eaten as sashimi) has rocketed in recent years and Japan consumes 80 percent of it. As ...