When it comes to harvesting sea urchins, Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick are the only two provinces in Atlantic Canada that are still active in the fishery.
“The commercial sea urchin fishery has not been active in Nova Scotia since 2021,” said Axel Rioux, media relations with Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
In Prince Edward Island, the sea urchin commercial fishery flatlined in 2000 after being active from 1997 to 1999.
Currently, there are 52 commercial licences in N.L. Temporary sea urchin licences totaled 24 in 2025, said Rioux.
Temporary licences were first issued in 2020 and were renewed annually until 2025. A decision regarding the issuance of temporary licences for the 2026 season has not yet been made, but when it is it will be communicated broadly via a Notice to Harvesters, said Ryan Critch, N.L. DFO communications.
“Sea urchin fishing areas in N.L. are aligned with lobster fishing areas (LFAs). As with several inshore fisheries, licences are valid only within the fishing area associated with the harvester’s homeport. This approach has been in place since 1997, when the sea urchin fishery was emerging, and continued after its conversion to a commercial fishery in 2007. Most N.L. sea urchin harvesting occurs in NAFO Divisions 3K and 3L. Landings under both the commercial and temporary licences have remained low for several years; the Department believes this is largely because many harvesters prioritize other fisheries such as snow crab, shrimp, cod and lobster,” Rioux added.
The sea urchin fishery in N.L. does not have a total allowable catch (TAC). Instead, it is managed by controlling effort through established seasons, limiting the number of licences and restricting fishing areas.
“Management measures have been developed collaboratively through the advisory committee process, involving harvesters, processors, Indigenous groups and the provincial government,” said Rioux.
The season is open year-round in most areas in N.L., except for LFA 4 (Oct. 1 to April 30), as well as LFAs 5 and 6 (Nov. 1 to April 30).
The sea urchin fishing areas in New Brunswick are also aligned with LFAs. There are 32 commercial sea urchin harvesters based in New Brunswick — 19 in LFA 36 and 13 in LFA 38, said Rioux, noting commercial sea urchin harvesters with access to LFAs 36 and 38 also have access to LFA 37.
“In New Brunswick, the commercial sea urchin fishery in both LFAs is managed under a TAC, with some measures specific to each LFA. In LFA 36, the commercial sea urchin fishery operates competitively with closed areas for rotational harvesting, and minimum and maximum urchin size limits. In LFA 38, the fishery is managed through a TAC, which is divided equally among the licence holders. Management measures include a minimum urchin size limit, and mandatory vessel monitoring systems.”
The commercial season runs from the second Monday in December to the second Friday in March in LFA 38, with peak fishing in December and January. In LFA 36, the commercial sea urchin fishing season runs from November 1 to May 15 annually, and fishing activity tends to occur between November and late March/early April.
For the 2025–2026 sea urchin fishery, the LFA 36 TAC was 360 t. In LFA 38, the TAC was 150.357 t in both Zone 1 and 2.
When active, Nova Scotia’s commercial sea urchin fishery is effort-based with a minimum urchin size limit. The season runs from September 1 to August 31, with a shorter season for Annapolis, Digby and Kings counties (September 1 to May 31).
“In Nova Scotia, sea urchin fishing areas vary by licence. Some licence holders have exclusive fishing areas, while others have access to waters off the coastline of a particular county. There are 52 commercial sea urchin licence holders in Nova Scotia,” said Rioux.
According to DFO statistics, 1,110,944 kg of sea urchins were harvested in Atlantic Canada in 2024, with a landed value of $5,411,327, down from 1,212,710 kg in landings, valued at $6,490,329 in 2023.
Sea urchins are harvested by divers using hand rakes and mesh bags to hold the spiny catch. Harvesting generally occurs in depths of 18 metres or less.
