Survival Of The Sea Urchin: Malta Bans Collecting Rizzi For Two Years After Numbers Plummet
Malta has banned the collection of sea urchins in order to protect the species after their number has seen a dramatic fall over the last years.
A two year moratorium comes into effect today in an effort to replenish the population, which plays a crucial role in Malta’s marine ecosystem.
Sea urchins ensure the survival of 18 different fish species, and their absence increases the risk of invasive alien species that negatively impact ecosystems.
However, the sea urchin population in Maltese waters has significantly declined, placing them at risk of extinction.
In order to safeguard their existence, the government has launched two initiatives.
The first will see the Department of Aquaculture implementing a “restocking programme”, where sea urchins will be cultivated and released into the seas to increase their population.
In the second initiative, a Legal Notice comes into effect today, imposing a two-year moratorium on the collection of sea urchins. This means collecting sea urchins will be illegal, and penalties will apply.
The law however does not prohibit the importation of sea urchins. Restaurants and fish importers must maintain the necessary documentation to verify the origin of the catch in case of inspections.
Energy Minister Miriam Dalli and Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries Alicia Bugeja Said visited the site where sea urchins are cultivated at Fort Sant Lucian.
“This conservation measure is being adopted to ensure that the population of sea urchins in our local waters does not continue to decline. By the end of this moratorium, there should be a sustainable amount of sea urchins in our waters,” Dalli explained.
Bugeja Said added that “with this process, sea urchins are collected from Maltese waters for restocking and then released again in our waters to ensure sustainability and food security. The labs at Fort Saint Lucian have been equipped with the appropriate temperature and lighting to prevent stress levels from rising.”
Have you ever caught sea urchins in Maltese waters?
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