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Climate driven range extension of the sea urchin Centrostephanus rodgersii has led to the establishment of a wild harvest industry for this species in Tasmania. Unreported in the state before 1978, winter warming of waters above the critical temperature threshold for larval development of 12^oC has resulted in the species becoming highly abundant, even causing extensive urchin barrens in some regions (Ling et al., 2008, 2009). Trial harvests for the lucrative urchin roe were first conducted in 2009, with the fishery growing to yield landings of 96 tonne by 2014 before the closure of the main processor (Fig 1). Current production supplies the domestic market, although options to export product have been explored. Industry subsidies are further being trialled in an attempt to accelerate the fishery. Research into the effects of fishing have shown the decline is size and age structure with increasing fishing intensity (Fig 2), with fishing effort overlapping that of the abalone industry. High levels of fishing pressure should minimise destructive urchin grazing and barren expansion on coastal reefs, as well as help protect reef dependant fisheries.

Item Type:	Conference Extract
Keywords:	urchin, fisheries, range extension, climate change
Research Division:	Biological Sciences
Research Group:	Ecology
Research Field:	Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology)
Objective Division:	Environmental Management
Objective Group:	Marine systems and management
Objective Field:	Marine biodiversity
UTAS Author:	Keane, JP (Dr John Keane)
UTAS Author:	Johnson, OJ (Miss Olivia Johnson)
ID Code:	126717
Year Published:	2018
Deposited By:	Sustainable Marine Research Collaboration
Deposited On:	2018-06-21
Last Modified:	2018-06-26
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