‘PITCHFEST 2020 SERIES’ EP. 5 - BRIAN TAKEDA FROM URCHINOMICS

In episode 5 of the Ocean Impact Podcast ‘Pitchfest 2020 Series’ Nick Chiarelli speaks with Brian Takeda, Founder and CEO of Urchinomics.

Urchinomics is a restorative aquaculture venture that aims to turn the environmental challenge of overgrazing sea urchins into a commercial, ecological and social opportunity.

As Nick opens this podcast he confesses that Urchinomics was “one of his favourite” Finalists in The Ocean Impact Pitchfest 2020 and from this conversation you can understand why.

Due to a combination of overfishing of predatory species, climate change and pollution, sea urchin populations have exploded, causing catastrophic imbalances in coastal ecosystems around the world. Uncontrolled quantities of sea urchins overgraze kelp forests and seagrass meadows, turning once pristine and vibrant, carbon sequestering marine ecosystems into lifeless, barren deserts, or "urchin barrens".

Devoid of food, these urchins then starve away and become empty shells that just barely survive. Empty sea urchins have no nutritional value so predatory fish avoid eating them. Urchin fishers have no incentive to fish them either, as they have no commercial value (no roe). Without any predatory pressure, urchin barrens can persist for decades or even centuries.

Urchinomics specifically target these ecologically destructive, empty sea urchins and re-home them into their proprietary aquaculture ranching systems. Here, they are fed a natural, formulated feed for 5 to 10 weeks until they are full of delicious roe and ready for sale to high end restaurants around the world. As a result of removing the empty sea urchins from the barrens, Urchinomics help kelp forests recover to their original majesty, bringing marine biodiversity and biomass back to coastal ecosystems. The restoration also contributes to carbon sequestration, as well as reducing the effects of coastal erosion and (localised) ocean acidification.

For more information on Urchinomics visit: https://www.urchinomics.com/

To follow Urchinomics on Instagram visit: https://www.instagram.com/urchinomics