The decline of the sea urchin, Tripneustes ventricosus, fishery of Barbados: a survey of fisherman and consumers

For over a century, Barbadians have fished the sea urchin, Tripneustes ventricosus, for its roe which they consider a traditional delicacy. The abundance of these sea urchins has declined drastically in recent years. Interviews with sea urchin fishermen and consumers document this decline and its socioeconomic impact. The depopulation of T. ventricosus occurred along the south and southeast coasts of Barbados in the late 1970's and along the east coast in the early 1980's. Prior to this decline, sea urchins were intensively harvested: Average catches exceeded 1000 sea urchins per person per day during the height of the fishing season, providing an average income of nearly $400 Bds (or US $200) per person per week. At present, sea urchins are rare to absent on traditional fishing grounds, and although their market value has increased substantially ($25-45 Bds/liter in 1985), there has been a major loss of employment and income from this fishery. -from Authors