More than 16 months after a Senate Inquiry recommended urgent action to control destructive sea urchin populations along Australia’s coast, the Federal government has yet to commit funding, despite broad support for a $55 million National Centro Strategy.
Last week, representatives from the Victorian Sea Urchin Divers Association (VSUDA), the Great Southern Reef Foundation (GSRF), the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), and the NSW sea urchin industry travelled to Canberra to demand answers.
The delegation met with MPs and Senators to discuss the growing environmental and economic threat posed by Centrostephanus rodgersii, the invasive black sea urchin that is devastating kelp forests and marine biodiversity.
“The science is clear, the economic benefits are obvious, and the industry is ready to act – but we need government support,” John Minehan of VSUDA said.
“If we don’t act now, we risk irreversible damage to the Great Southern Reef.”
To highlight the urgency of the issue, the delegation helped launch the Parliamentary Friends of the Great Southern Reef, an initiative designed to foster political support for marine conservation and sustainable industry solutions.
More than 100 guests, including 20 to 30 MPs and Senators, attended the event, which featured sea urchin delicacies such as oysters topped with urchin roe, scallops in sea urchin butter, and even sea urchin-infused beer and cocktails.
Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, along with MPs Josh Wilson, Darren Chester, and Rebekha Sharkie, hosted the event, emphasising the need for immediate funding.
“We know that for just a $55 million investment in urchin control, including in harvesting them for food, we could help safeguard the Great Southern Reef. The Greens are calling for bipartisan support for this plan to protect this precious ecosystem, that spans from and supports jobs from WA to NSW,” Mr Whish-Wilson said.
This isn’t just about saving kelp forests – it’s about jobs, fisheries, and the future of our marine ecosystems. A trailer for White Rock, a documentary exploring the impact of Centrostephanus rodgersii on Australia’s reefs, was also screened to reinforce the scale of the crisis.
Despite broad political agreement that tackling the sea urchin problem is a win-win for the environment and regional industries, no election promise or
funding commitment has been made.
The lack of action raises concerns among marine scientists and industry leaders that Australia is failing to protect one of its most valuable ecosystems. VSUDA, which has been at the forefront of sustainable urchin harvesting since 1997, continues to advocate for immediate funding to support research, data capture technologies, and supply chain improvements.
“We know how to fix this problem,” Mr Minehan said.
“Now we just need the government to step up.”
