New Japanese partnership to boost kelp forests through sea urchin ranching

Uninomics KK (Urchinomics) is collaborating with Asahi Town in Toyama Prefecture, Japan, on an innovative sea urchin farming initiative to combat the loss of kelp forests and declining coastal biodiversity in Toyama Bay.

Toyama Bay, like many marine areas in Japan, has seen a dramatic decline in kelp forests due to rising seawater temperatures, nutrient shortages, and overgrazing by sea urchins, the partners say.

Essential for marine biodiversity and as blue carbon sinks, kelp forests are critical for absorbing and storing carbon dioxide, supporting fisheries, and mitigating climate change.

"The combination of the proliferation of sea urchins and the decline in kelp forests has led to the establishment of urchin barrens. These barren areas are populated with malnourished urchins which are unable to grow the prized roe known as ‘uni’," Uninomics explained in a press announcement.

The company uses proprietary cutting-edge technology and feed to farm sea urchins removed from the seabed in an on-land facility, which it says enables the urchins to develop consistently high-quality roe in a short period of time.

"Once urchins have been removed from the area, it is possible to stimulate the re-growth of kelp and hence, recovery of the ecosystem," the company stated. "This approach not only conserves the marine environment but also revitalizes the local fishing industry and introduces new industries and specialty products to regions affected by coastal denudation."

The approach has garnered international recognition, including an endorsement from UNESCO as part of the United Nations Decade of Marine Science for Sustainable Development.

Uninomics is working with the Asahi Town Regional Revitalization Cooperation Troop, the Tomari Fisheries Cooperative Association, and GREENspearfisher, an organization dedicated to improving marine environments. Together, they are surveying barren coastal areas and sea urchin habitats in the waters around Toyama Prefecture.

The partnership aims to establish a state-of-the-art, land-based sea urchin ranching facility in Asahi Town. Construction of the facility is set to begin in early 2025, following the confirmation of suitable locations and the extent of the barren areas, the partners said.

Urchinomics was founded in 2017 by Brian Tsuyoshi Takeda. In 2023, the company announced that Perry Bevin would be taking over as its new CEO to drive its international growth. In July 2024, the Japanese logistics giant NYK became a shareholder in Urchinomics just one day after the restorative aquaculture company entered into a capital and business alliance with F&LC, the world's largest sushi consortium.