Red Sea Urchin

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Red Sea Urchin

Strongylocentrotus franciscanus

Photo by:
Kerry Werry
(copyright 1996-2002 K. Werry)

Aquaculture Potential

Opportunity Constraints

Increased demand, especially in Japan
Feed low on food chain (Iversen and Hale 1992)

The wild fishery may still be meeting the demand

In-depth Information Regarding this Species

Alternate Common Names N/A

Range N/A

Habitat N/A

Substrate N/A

Depth range (meters) N/A

Behavior N/A

General Temperature Range (°C) 6.1–25 (Iversen and Hale 1992)

General Salinity Range (ppt) Needs full seawater (cannot tolerate estuary salinities) (Anderson 2001)

Maximum Overall Recorded Size (cm) N/A

Maximum Recorded Size for Males (cm) N/A

Maximum Recorded Size for Females (cm) N/A

Average Maximum Overall Length (cm) 61 across
May be the world's largest urchin (Anderson 2001)

Average Maximum Overall Length for Males (cm) N/A

Average Maximum Overall Length for Females (cm) N/A

Average Maximum weight (kg) 2.25 (Anderson 2001)

Average Maximum weight for Males (cm) N/A

Average Maximum weight for Females (cm) N/A

Length When Harvested (cm) N/A

Weight When Harvested (kg) N/A

Overall Length to Age Ratio (cm/age in years) N/A

Male Length to Age Ratio (cm/age in years) N/A

Female Length to Age Ratio (cm/age in years) N/A

Overall Maximum Age (years) 20 in captivity (Anderson 2001)

Maximum Age for Males (years) N/A

Maximum Age for Females (years) N/A

Age when Harvested (years) N/A

Overall Growth Rate N/A

Male Growth Rate N/A

Female Growth Rate N/A

Overall Age at Maturity (years) 1–2 (Iversen and Hale 1992)

Male Age at Maturity (years) N/A

Female Age at Maturity (years) N/A

Overall Length at Maturity (cm) N/A

Male Length at Maturity (cm) N/A

Female Length at Maturity (cm) N/A

Maturity/Temperature Relationship N/A

Type of Reproduction N/A

Fecundity N/A

Spawning Habitat N/A

Spawning Behavior N/A

Time of Year of Spawning N/A

Number of Spawns per season N/A

Spawning/Temperature Relationship (°C) N/A

Spawning/Salinity Relationship N/A

Description of Eggs N/A

Habitat where Eggs are found N/A

Days to Hatch N/A

Time of Year when Eggs Hatch N/A

Temperature for Egg Survival (°C) N/A

Salinity for Egg Survival (ppt) N/A

Predators on Eggs N/A

Habitat where Larvae are found N/A

Days in Larval Stage 42–56 (Iversen and Hale 1992)

Temperature for Larval Survival (°C) N/A

Salinity for Larval Survival (ppt) N/A

Larval Food Preference N/A

Habitat where Juveniles are found N/A

Length when Juvenile Settles out (cm) N/A

Temperature for Juvenile Survival (°C) N/A

Salinity for Juvenile Survival (ppt) N/A

Where and When Juvenile Feeds N/A

Juvenile Food Preference N/A

Habitat where Adults are found (depth in meters) N/A

Temperature for Adult Survival (°C) N/A

Salinity for Adult Survival (ppt) N/A

Adult Feeding Type N/A

Adult Food Preference Algae (Macrocystis, Plankton) (Iversen and Hale 1992)
Herbivore/Detritivore
Kelp, other Algae, Diatoms, scavenge on dead animals (Anderson 2001)

Food Eaten in Laboratory Setting Kelp or other algae
Will eat lettuce, broccoli, spinach (Anderson 2001)

Amount of Food Eaten in Laboratory Setting N/A

Additional Laboratory Findings N/A

Environmental Considerations N/A

Commercial Fishery N/A

Market Males and females raised for roe (Iversen and Hale 1992)

Sold Fresh or Frozen N/A

Style Species is Sold N/A

Additional Use of the Species N/A

Shelf-life in Fresh State (days at 40°F) N/A

Shelf-life in Frozen State (months at 0°F) N/A

Shelf-life Canned (months) N/A

Weight sold in Oregon (kg) N/A

Ornamental Market Good aquarium species (Anderson 2001)
Can damage acrylic aquariums while eating algae off tank sides (Sempier)

Parasites or Disease Lesions on body wall via communicable disease from bacteria
Protozoan cause loss of muscle function in tube feet
A diatom species cause death via epidermal disintegration
Turbellarian worms in digestive tract (Iversen and Hale 1992)

Additional Remarks Abalone compete for space (Iversen and Hale 1992)
Spines are NOT venomous on this species (Sempier)

Location where Species has been Researched/Farmed Hawaii
Japan (Iversen and Hale 1992)

Appropriate Aquaculture Systems N/A

Recent Wild Harvest Data for Oregon
Data from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Year Total Catch
(Pounds) Ex-vessel Value
( U.S. Dollars)

1989
7,842,658

2,728,272

1990
9,320,868

4,413,286

1991
4,736,872

3,455,874

1992
2,857,392

2,212,906

1993
2,183,266

1,909,015

1994
1,789,598

1,373,040

1995
1,495,313

1,205,180

1996
819,483

431,405

1997
490,087

263,648

1998
344,714

152,175

Home Species Profiles Top Food Species Top Ornamental Species Additional Information References Contacts

Alternate Common Names	N/A
Range	N/A
Habitat	N/A
Substrate	N/A
Depth range (meters)	N/A
Behavior	N/A
General Temperature Range (°C)	6.1–25 (Iversen and Hale 1992)
General Salinity Range (ppt)	Needs full seawater (cannot tolerate estuary salinities) (Anderson 2001)
Maximum Overall Recorded Size (cm)	N/A
Maximum Recorded Size for Males (cm)	N/A
Maximum Recorded Size for Females (cm)	N/A
Average Maximum Overall Length (cm)	61 across May be the world's largest urchin (Anderson 2001)
Average Maximum Overall Length for Males (cm)	N/A
Average Maximum Overall Length for Females (cm)	N/A
Average Maximum weight (kg)	2.25 (Anderson 2001)
Average Maximum weight for Males (cm)	N/A
Average Maximum weight for Females (cm)	N/A
Length When Harvested (cm)	N/A
Weight When Harvested (kg)	N/A
Overall Length to Age Ratio (cm/age in years)	N/A
Male Length to Age Ratio (cm/age in years)	N/A
Female Length to Age Ratio (cm/age in years)	N/A
Overall Maximum Age (years)	20 in captivity (Anderson 2001)
Maximum Age for Males (years)	N/A
Maximum Age for Females (years)	N/A
Age when Harvested (years)	N/A
Overall Growth Rate	N/A
Male Growth Rate	N/A
Female Growth Rate	N/A
Overall Age at Maturity (years)	1–2 (Iversen and Hale 1992)
Male Age at Maturity (years)	N/A
Female Age at Maturity (years)	N/A
Overall Length at Maturity (cm)	N/A
Male Length at Maturity (cm)	N/A
Female Length at Maturity (cm)	N/A
Maturity/Temperature Relationship	N/A
Type of Reproduction	N/A
Fecundity	N/A
Spawning Habitat	N/A
Spawning Behavior	N/A
Time of Year of Spawning	N/A
Number of Spawns per season	N/A
Spawning/Temperature Relationship (°C)	N/A
Spawning/Salinity Relationship	N/A
Description of Eggs	N/A
Habitat where Eggs are found	N/A
Days to Hatch	N/A
Time of Year when Eggs Hatch	N/A
Temperature for Egg Survival (°C)	N/A
Salinity for Egg Survival (ppt)	N/A
Predators on Eggs	N/A
Habitat where Larvae are found	N/A
Days in Larval Stage	42–56 (Iversen and Hale 1992)
Temperature for Larval Survival (°C)	N/A
Salinity for Larval Survival (ppt)	N/A
Larval Food Preference	N/A
Habitat where Juveniles are found	N/A
Length when Juvenile Settles out (cm)	N/A
Temperature for Juvenile Survival (°C)	N/A
Salinity for Juvenile Survival (ppt)	N/A
Where and When Juvenile Feeds	N/A
Juvenile Food Preference	N/A
Habitat where Adults are found (depth in meters)	N/A
Temperature for Adult Survival (°C)	N/A
Salinity for Adult Survival (ppt)	N/A
Adult Feeding Type	N/A
Adult Food Preference	Algae (Macrocystis, Plankton) (Iversen and Hale 1992) Herbivore/Detritivore Kelp, other Algae, Diatoms, scavenge on dead animals (Anderson 2001)
Food Eaten in Laboratory Setting	Kelp or other algae Will eat lettuce, broccoli, spinach (Anderson 2001)
Amount of Food Eaten in Laboratory Setting	N/A
Additional Laboratory Findings	N/A
Environmental Considerations	N/A
Commercial Fishery	N/A
Market	Males and females raised for roe (Iversen and Hale 1992)
Sold Fresh or Frozen	N/A
Style Species is Sold	N/A
Additional Use of the Species	N/A
Shelf-life in Fresh State (days at 40°F)	N/A
Shelf-life in Frozen State (months at 0°F)	N/A
Shelf-life Canned (months)	N/A
Weight sold in Oregon (kg)	N/A
Ornamental Market	Good aquarium species (Anderson 2001) Can damage acrylic aquariums while eating algae off tank sides (Sempier)
Parasites or Disease	Lesions on body wall via communicable disease from bacteria Protozoan cause loss of muscle function in tube feet A diatom species cause death via epidermal disintegration Turbellarian worms in digestive tract (Iversen and Hale 1992)
Additional Remarks	Abalone compete for space (Iversen and Hale 1992) Spines are NOT venomous on this species (Sempier)
Location where Species has been Researched/Farmed	Hawaii Japan (Iversen and Hale 1992)
Appropriate Aquaculture Systems	N/A

Year	Total Catch (Pounds)	Ex-vessel Value ( U.S. Dollars)
1989	7,842,658	2,728,272
1990	9,320,868	4,413,286
1991	4,736,872	3,455,874
1992	2,857,392	2,212,906
1993	2,183,266	1,909,015
1994	1,789,598	1,373,040
1995	1,495,313	1,205,180
1996	819,483	431,405
1997	490,087	263,648
1998	344,714	152,175