Massive Release Of 1,200 Sea Urchins Planned

[castalianspring]

Hatchery-Raised Sea Urchins To Combat Invasive SeaweedA joint project between the state division of Aquatic Resources, the Nature Conservatory and the University of Hawaii to restore the natural reef in Kaneohe is underway

Comments

[rosiedoes]

Is it wrong that the first thing I thought was, "Om nom nom"?

[mercystars]

You wouldn't even be the only one, bb.

[gmonkey42]

And when the urchins grow out of control...OTTERS! And then of course sharks to eat the otters. Then sharks with laser beams on their frikin' heads to stop the regular sharks. I am 100% on board with this plan!

But seriously, I might accept that herding them is actually possible (maybe), but what about when they reproduce? The article doesn't say anything about them being sterile.

[castalianspring]

Updated post to reflect that these urchins are native, so even if they do spawn and spread, it's not likely to be as large a problem as an unknown invasive.

[gmonkey42]

Yeah but native urchins here in the eastern Pacific can wipe out a kelp forest if they become too numerous. I still think it's a bad idea.

[owlsie]

My first thought, whenever i see something like this, is that Simpsons episode where they keep introducing increasingly ridiculous animal species to control another animal species [I think they ended up with carnivorous gorillas, or something]

[philippos42]

Sea urchins pretty much eat whatever is in their way that they can eat. Channeling that is worth a shot.