Dr. Coleen Suckling leads initiative to grow green sea urchin hatchery.
Producing local sea urchins, a species not previously considered a viable seafood option, would provide economic and social sustainability, and help to restore the ocean’s vibrant ecosystem. These “weird and wonderful creatures” showcase a tolerance of ocean environment stressors, like ocean acidification and marine plastic pollution, that pose a threat to marine life and ecosystems. . . and they are delicious. Coleen Suckling, URI faculty, is the lead investigator in a two-year collaborative study to understand the implications on ocean and human health and build sustainable ocean-driven economies and works with organizations like Urchinomics towards these goals.
Learn more:
University of Maine web page about the project
Coleen Suckling’s web page about the project