Sea Urchins: Sri Lanka’s Untapped Blue Economic Resource?

Sea urchins are keystone organisms in shallow marine ecosystems, exerting profound influence on coral reefs, kelp forests, and seagrass meadows through their roles as grazers, bioeroders, and habitat engineers. Beyond their ecological significance, they hold substantial economic value as a luxury seafood item (roe), a source of bioactive pharmaceutical compounds, and a potential driver of sustainable aquaculture. Sri Lankan waters are home to 39 sea urchin species, with Stomopneustes variolaris and Tripneustes gratilla identified as the most abundant and widely distributed in shallow coastal waters. Despite this rich biodiversity and global market demand, Sri Lanka currently lacks a developed sea urchin fishery or aquaculture industry. This editorial explores the dual ecological and economic importance of sea urchins, provides a detailed evaluation of Sri Lanka’s native species as viable resources, discusses global best practices and innovations in aquaculture, and charts a sustainable development pathway. By integrating scientific research, policy innovation, and community engagement, Sri Lanka can position sea urchin aquaculture as a cornerstone of its emerging blue economy, ensuring ecological resilience while generating economic prosperity.