$1.48M Boost for Aboriginal-Led Sea Urchin Fishery on NSW South Coast

The New South Wales government has allocated $1.48 million to support an Aboriginal-led sea urchin fishery, tackling the devastating spread of long-spined sea urchins that have turned half of shallow reefs into barren wastelands.

The initiative will train Walbunja community members as professional urchin divers and develop an Indigenous-branded product, creating both economic opportunity and ecological restoration.

The Problem: An Explosion of Long-Spined Sea Urchins

The long-spined sea urchin, endemic to NSW, has surged in numbers due to two key factors:

• Overfishing of natural predators that once kept populations in check
• Rising sea temperatures creating more favorable conditions for the species

This proliferation has transformed approximately 50% of shallow reefs into "urchin barrens" — areas where kelp forests have been stripped away, destroying critical marine habitat.

Urchin barrens have expanded across southern NSW and into Victoria and Tasmania, damaging kelp forests along the Great Southern Reef.

A trial removal of 30,000 urchins at Merimbula resulted in kelp regrowth within just 10 months, demonstrating the potential for recovery.

The Solution: A Restorative Aboriginal-Led Fishery

The project centers on training Walbunja divers John Carriage and Denzel Carriage under exporter Jamie Newman, in partnership with Joonga Land and Water Aboriginal Corporation.

The goal is to create a restorative fishery that benefits the Aboriginal community both economically and ecologically. The Walbunja people will lead reef restoration while developing an Indigenous-branded product for commercial markets.

Statements from Experts and Community Leaders

Marine biologist Cayne Layton said there is potential for reef recovery once urchin densities are reduced.

Supply chain specialist Tillmann Boehme said the goal is for the Aboriginal community to lead restoration and benefit from their resources.

Walbunja elder Wally Stewart emphasized that the younger generation needs to take leadership in healing sea country.

Legal Context

Previous legal cases against Aboriginal fishers for cultural fishing have been withdrawn or dismissed while a Native Title claim remains ongoing. This funding and the fishery project represent a shift toward recognizing and supporting Indigenous cultural and economic rights in coastal management.