Progress 07/01/24 to 06/30/25
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audiences reached during this periodproject are the green sea urchin industrial stakeholder community, such as regional hatcheries, small to medium-sized growers, and scientists from the Department of Marine Resources who permit aquaculture and work with the Maine Sea Urchin Zone Council (SUZC) which is an advisory committee comprised of the industry of hatchery producers, processors, and harvesters. This project has been engaging with these communitiesthrough direct conversations and collaborations; through talks attended by the broader aquaculture industry community such as the Aquaculture America Conference, a biodiversity farming conference (Rhode to Regenerative: From land to sea conference)and public talks coordinated by the Rhode Island Sea Grant for regional, national and international shellfish and seaweed growers.? Changes/Problems:During our early months of sampling urchins, the site population we were using was decimated by a mass invasion of Jonah crabs. This is a relatively new predator to the Gulf of Maine urchin population, gradually ranging northwards occupying the niche that the American Lobsterpreviously held. This provides us with good information which can be used to caution open ranching aquaculture methods. We worked around this issue by sampling urchins from a nearby neighboring site (Vinylhaven). This was deemed suitable due to it being located within the central region of the Gulf of Maine historically sampled from the late 1980s,having similar habitat and food availability (e.g. similar species and abundance of macroalgae), depths, and being a location with sufficient numbers of urchins needed to support our sampling needs according to our collaborators in the Maine Department of Marine Resources. No cost extension - We processed the grant for a 1 year no cost extension (extends the project end date from June 2025 to June 2026) to allow us to complete the objectives following initial delays described in the first year progress report. Due to recent administrative changes, several public data services previously targeted for extracting seawater data, such as the NOAA Buoy systems, have announced potential shutdowns. In response, we have proactively extracted the necessary data for the time being and will continue to closely monitor these developments to evaluate ongoing access. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?One Graduate Student has been extensively trained and mentored for sea urchin industry research and mentored in developing plans for and implementing this project for their PhD thesis. Seven undergraduate students have been trained on green sea urchin aquaculture methods through research-based projects for credit and through summer internships. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?So far we have collected data for 14 months out of 24 due to starting the project late (see changes/problems section in year 1 report). These preliminary data points were presented to the research and industry communities at the Aquaculture America Conference in New Orleans (LA) in March 2025. We are also regularly updating the Department of Marine Resources (DMR) who oversee stock management and aquaculture permitting and related practices on these data to help inform direct users of this information. This also helps to inform broader industry through the Maine Sea Urchin Zone Council meetings, which DMR oversees (see target audience section of report) which the aquaculture industry engages with and attends. The project has also developed broad sea urchin aquaculture guidance to the public and stakeholders through a webinar organized by Rhode Island Sea Grant, available as an open resource on their YouTube Channel. This has resulted in more interest in urchin aquaculture across the Northeast and initiated new partnerships with shellfish growers and state agencies (see products). Lastly urchin aquaculture can also be used as a tool to reduce biofouling on shellfish aquaculture gear and shellfish surfaces by integrating sea urchins with shellfish. This approach was discussed in a conference panel and presented in a graduate poster at theRhode to Regenerative: From land to sea conference in May 2025, a biodiversity farming approach theme attended by shellfish and kelp producers which are part of our target audiences for educating about sea urchins.? What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?·Continue with finalizing the remaining monthly sampling to determine the ideal harvesting/market and reproductive periods and account for any potential interannual variability.Reproductive stages of urchins will be identified and visualized and data from the spawning samples will be collated to identify reproductive viability and timing. ·Seawater parameter data collections will continue in conjunction with this sampling effort. ·The historical data collections will be finalized. ·Data visualization will continue, and statistical explorative approaches will begin as the final sampling and historical data are collated. ·Knowledge exchange and collaboration, through direct communications, meetings, presentations, and data sharing, with the green sea urchin industry will continue. ·Data will be used to form a framework for larger scale grant capture - with the intention to target the NIFA AFRI Reproduction Gonad Function program should the USDA open this up again for applications as we proceed under the existing administrative changes. If not, then we will aim to target other grant programs where relevant.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Milestones 1 and 2: Urchin sampling to determine best harvesting timing and to determine the reproductive timing. This project has conducted 14 monthly sampling periods with 10 more months remaining for green sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis; GSUs) from a commercially active central coastal region of the Gulf of Maine to determine how gonad function affects ideal harvest and reproduction timing. Marketable gonad characteristics (e.g. color, gonad index, tissue firmness and leaching) have been measured. The gonad samples were recently histologically sectioned in preparation for determining the reproductive stages of the urchins which heavily influence market timing. We have conducted sampling for reproductive viability and success for the first year from Dec. to May.Animals were spawned and samples preserved and currently are being processed for fecundity, egg size, fertilization, and hatching success which will help inform identifying the reproductive season for the present day. Milestone 3: Seawater parameter measurements:A daily and interannual seawater parameter logging survey (e.g. temperature) at the sampling site started at the same time as Milestone 1. One of our goals was to determine whether public temperature data archives and active services recording information in nearby sites could be suitable to use as a tool for explaining phenological changes in gonad function historically and/or moving forward to maximize use of existing resources. To help achieve this, we collected data directly at the benthic site where sea urchins are being collected from, using a high frequency submersible temperature data logger, submerged in coastal water ranging 3-10m in depth.One year's worth of on-site seawater temperature data was compared to the same timeline data sourced from the NOAA National data buoy center, using data sourced from the nearest buoy site (Station F01, Penobscot Bay). The data show that general seasonal trends are somewhat similar but the on-site data logger captures more variation (up to 5oC within a few days) and temperatures being 1-3 oC warmer across May through to October. This is most likely due to shallower coastal waters where our sample site is located not experiencing the same cool deeper water mixing occurring in the Buoy location located further offshore, where the buoy sits at the surface of 110 m depth of ocean water. We therefore conclude for this milestone that in order to gain fine scale site specific temperature readings, submersible data loggers should continue to be deployed at the specific site of interest or study. If seasonal temperature trends are desired, then sourcing data from the NOAA buoy data would likely suffice. Milestone 4: Historical GSU gonad function data.Historical market characteristic data from the last few decades have been partly collated from historical reports which took place in the central Gulf of Maine area, in the regions of Owl's Head, Stonington and Georges Islands (Vadas & Beal, 1999, Vadas et al., 2015; Seward, 2002). These are being graphically visualized along with the present-day data to help us navigate whether there are any general patterns of change occurring in gonad functions which could impact industry practice timing. So far we have preliminary data for gonad index (GI) data, gonad leaching and firmness and sampling site temperature data. These indicate that at present, gonad gamete leaching and softness is high during March indicative that the reproductive season could be starting earlier than during the late 1980s (Apr.-Jun.). Present day gonad index (GI) appears to be show similar general patterns to data mined from the late 1980s. However it was noted that from Jan. to Mar. the GI from the present day is 50-60% larger (at 16-18%) than from the late 1980s (at 11-12%). At present we cannot explain this but will be looking closely at the reproductive sampling data, more in-depth seawater parameter data and will work with our partner the Dept. Marine Resources to determine whether habitat and food availability may have changes across time which may explain this. Milestone 5: Data analysis and expected results.Data are being collated into figures as the project sampling efforts progress. Some of this was briefly explained within the Milestone 4 progress information above. Milestone 6. Knowledge exchange, project meetings and outreach.Please refer to the dissemination section of the report. Citations: Seward, L.C.N., 2002. The Relationship between Green Sea Urchin Spawning, Spring Phytoplankton Blooms, and the Winter-Spring Hydrography at Selected Sites in Maine (Electronic Theses and Dissertations). University of Maine. Vadas, R.L., Beal, B.F 1999. Temporal and spatial variability in the relationships between adult size, maturity and fecundity in green sea urchins. Maine Department of Marine Resources, 136 pp. Vadas, R.L., Beal, B.F., Dudgeon, S.R., Wright, W.A., 2015. Spatial and Temporal Variability of Spawning in the Green Sea Urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis along the Coast of Maine. J. Shellfish Res. 34, 1097-1128.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Suckling. CC (2025). Rhode to Regenerative: From land to sea conference (Rhode Island, USA) Using biodiversity as a farm tool panel.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2025
Citation:
Elba, B, Suckling. CC (2025). Rhode to Regenerative: From land to sea conference (Rhode Island, USA). Graduate Poster Evaluating the efficacy of the Green Sea Urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) to mitigate biofouling when co-cultured with Atlantic Sea Scallops (Placopecten magellanicus).
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Suckling. CC., Morse, D, Eddy, S, Elba, B. (2024). American Aquaculture Conference (New Orleans, USA) - Assessing the impacts of climate change on sea urchin production.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Elba, B, Suckling. CC. (2024). American Aquaculture Conference (New Orleans, USA) - Evaluating the efficacy of the Green Sea Urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) to mitigate biofouling when co-cultured with Atlantic Sea Scallops (Placopecten magellanicus).
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Suckling, CC, Morse, D. 2024. Sea urchin farming. Coastal State Discussion Series, Rhode Island Sea Grant. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzm3-XhLsHU
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Progress 07/01/23 to 06/30/24
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audiences reached during this periodproject are the green sea urchin industrial stakeholder community, such as regional hatcheries, small to medium-sized growers, and scientists from the Department of Marine Resources who permit aquaculture and work with the Maine Sea Urchin Zone Council (SUZC) which is an advisory committee comprised of the industry of hatchery producers, processors, and harvesters. This project has been engaging with these communitiesthrough direct conversations and collaborations; through talks intended for these audiences such those hosted by the Dept. of Marine Resources intended for the SUZC members and broader industry community and public talks coordinated by the Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center for regional, national and international shellfish and seaweed growers; and a thematic session at the industry attended Northeast Aquaculture Conference. Changes/Problems:The original project outlined that we would be working with a grower for sampling of urchins, but the urchins were lost meaning we couldno longer use animals grown with a known history from the farm. As far as the Project Director was aware, there were no other suitable grower alternatives at that time to resolve this challenge. This meant that the project needed to use the contingency plan outlined in the original proposal - to sample from the natural stock of green sea urchins to address the project objectives. This work requires a special research license which must list qualified divers, with no prior permit offenses and list USGS certified boats that will be used. This would take a significant time to coordinate and manage every month, and from initial enquiries no diver could fully commit to the project needs or had certified boats. The Project Director was permitted by the Reproduction Program Directors to bring in the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) into the project as a new funded project partner to resolve these issues. They oversee research and aquaculture permitting and the natural stock of green urchins, have excellent knowledge of sample sites, are qualified scuba divers with access to facilities (boat) to coordinate and implement reliable and consistent sampling for the project, and are an important stakeholder for the project impacts. Working with the DMR we have coordinated a special research license for the work and have coordinated the partnership paperwork. These solutions have not changed the research goals or sampling protocols, but have placed the project approximately 9 months behind schedule. Some minor re-budgeting was required for the new partnerbut has followed the award terms and conditions. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?One Graduate Student has been extensively trained and mentored for sea urchin industry research and mentored in developing plans for and implementing this project for their PhD thesis. Three undergraduate students, including 2 from underserved and underrepresented communities have been trained on green sea urchin aquaculture methods through research-based projects for credit and through summer internships. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?So far we have only collected data for 2 months out of 24 due to starting the project late (see changes/problems section). These preliminary data points were presented to the funding agency during the annual reporting meeting (17th Animal Reproduction Annual Project Director Meeting). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Monthly sampling to determine the ideal harvesting period will continue as well as historical data collections. Green sea urchins (GSUs) will also be collected broadly across the across the historically recognized and present day suspected reproductive period to capture the full temporal reproductive season and reproductive viability. To assess this, this project will employ hatchery production methods and gain insights to their broodstock viability needed for a hatchery. Seawater data collection will continue at the sampling site. Data collection frompublic seawater parameter data archives derive from surface water buoy active services (e.g. NOAA) will begin to determine whether these are suitable to represent the sea urchin site to help understand comparability for climate assessment. Historical sea urchin market data collection will continue. Knowledge exchange and collaboration, through direct communications, meetings, presentations, and data sharing, with the GSU industry will continue.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
1.The objectiveof this seed project is to determine whether the green sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) reproductive period is shifting to an earlier phase, and therefore, requires changes in the management of production practices to expand and improve industrial sustainability within the Northeastern Unites States. 2.This project has just started its monthly sampling for green sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis; GSUs) from a commercially active central coastal region of the Gulf of Maine to determine how gonad function affects ideal harvest and reproduction timing. Marketable characteristics (e.g. gonad color, gonad index, reproductive stage (via histological sectioning), and tissue firmness) were measured to elucidate during which months the GSUs exhibit desired marketable characteristics and therefore the ideal harvesting period, as well as providing some insights towards when the reproductive period occurs. The team consulted with regional processors to define the marketable characteristic values and categories (e.g. for gonad color) and have developed tools to make this process anonymous tothose data collecting to prevent/reduce bias and make the work repeatable for future research efforts. A daily and interannual seawater parameter logging survey (e.g. temperature) at the sampling site started at the same time as Milestone 1. Historical market characteristic data from 40 years ago have been partly collated from historical reports. There has been knowledge exchange and collaboration, through direct communications, meetings, presentations, and data sharing, with the GSU industry to establish logistics and finalize planning for sampling and to increase awareness of the project and green sea urchin aquaculture industry. 3. There has been several more requests for green sea urchin juveniles by growers to the regional hatchery and further uptake at farms in the Gulf of Maine by another 30-40%. Requests for adjusting the harvesting period have been made by producers and serious discussions are underway at present by the project's target audience. The data being generated by this grant will be presented as more data are collected to help inform this process. 4. Small to medium sized growers will benefit from this work to better understand the ideal management practices for aquaculture.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Suckling, CC, Kogson, L, Morse, D. 2024. The aquaculture of Green Sea Urchins in New England. Maine Aquaculture Hub & Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center Webinar Series. https://youtu.be/xARghdloTHQ?si=1sv4HraBKm0pBkyq
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Eddy, S.D., Morse, D.L., Kogson, L., Suckling, C.C. (2023). Green sea urchin aquaculture in the Northeast US: Hatchery, Nursery and Growout. Maine Sea Grant Information Booklet. 16pp.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Suckling. CC. (2023). Green Sea Urchin Research Forum, Maine Department of Marine Resources Understanding the role of climate change on green sea urchin production new projects & collaborative opportunities.
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