1. Could spatial management of sea urchins increase fishery profits? Sarah Teck, Nick Shears, Sarah Rathbone, Steve Gaines Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California Santa Barbara Photo: CINMS Photo: J. Maassen

2. Santa Barbara San Miguel Santa Rosa Anacapa Santa Cruz Background red sea urchin fishery: –California ~11.2 million lbs. ~$6.1 million –N. Channel Islands ~66% –Port of Santa Barbara ~52% –90% western end Image: www.incabrain.com

3. Background seasonal variability in gonad quality influences price ($0.39/lb vs >$1.00/lb) fishermen race to harvest year-round vs. waiting for optimal quality (how much more $ would they make, if they waited?) delaying harvest through spatial property rights, TURF’s (Territorial Use Rights in Fisheries)  fishermen’s profits (also would save time, no need to survey area to fish during suboptimal conditions, just wait for optimal quality)

4. Background with fished species need to wait for individuals and population growth with urchins also need to wait for seasonal gonad quality first, we need to understand more detailed ecological information on temporal and spatial variability of gonad quality

5. Background with fished species need to wait for individuals and population growth with urchins also need to wait for seasonal gonad quality first, we need to understand more detailed ecological information on temporal and spatial variability of gonad quality

6. Santa Barbara San Miguel Santa Rosa Anacapa Santa Cruz Channel Island field sampling

7. Santa Barbara San Miguel Santa Rosa Anacapa Santa Cruz Red urchin gonad variability over space gonad: somatic index (GSI)

8. Santa Barbara Port sampling

9. Red urchin gonad variability over time gonad: somatic index (GSI) Oct ‘08 DecFeb ‘09 MarMayJulAugOct

10. Red urchin gonad variability over time gonad: somatic index (GSI) Oct ‘08 DecFeb ‘09 MarMayJulAugOct

11. Red urchin gonad variability over time gonad: somatic index (GSI) Oct ‘08 DecFeb ‘09 MarMayJulAugOct

12. Red urchin gonad variability over time gonad: somatic index (GSI) Oct ‘08 DecFeb ‘09 MarMayJulAugOct

13. Red urchin gonad variability over time gonad: somatic index (GSI) Oct ‘08 DecFeb ‘09 MarMayJulAugOct

14. Red urchin landings 1985-2005 Purple urchin abundance 2007

15. purples compete with reds for kelp not commercially harvested (smaller) form persistent urchin barrens (mostly in the east) long-term monitoring sites deforested by purples ~33% of the time—mostly in the east purple sea urchin

16. manipulate ecology of a managed area to increase profits  kelp restoration

17. Long-term (1985-2007) Variation in Kelp and Urchin NPS—KFM data (eastern SCI and Anacapa Island) Biomass (gm -2 ) Density (m -2 ) kelp purple urchins red urchins

18. Long-term (1985-2007) Variation in Kelp and Urchin NPS—KFM data (eastern SCI and Anacapa Island) Biomass (gm -2 ) Density (m -2 ) kelp purple urchins red urchins

19. Long-term (1985-2007) Variation in Kelp and Urchin NPS—KFM data (eastern SCI and Anacapa Island) Biomass (gm -2 ) Density (m -2 ) kelp purple urchins red urchins Red urchins have persistently higher biomass inside of the reserves. Reproductive output is ~4 times higher in kelp forests versus urchin barrens

21. ecological restoration & economic revitalization