Collector sea urchin: A new opportunity for Seychelles aquaculture |18 September 2026

Collector sea urchin: A new opportunity for Seychelles aquaculture

Beneath the waters surrounding Seychelles is a species that could open an unusual new chapter for the country’s aquaculture sector – the collector sea urchin, Tripneustes gratilla.

Indigenous to Seychelles waters, the species is being explored for its potential to be commercially farmed for uni – the edible gonads, or roe, regarded as a delicacy in several international markets.

At the Sea Urchin Facility (SURF) in Providence, efforts are focused on understanding how collector urchins can be produced under controlled conditions, while also examining the systems, markets and distribution networks that would be required if production is eventually scaled up.

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