Sea urchins are farmed and ranched for their roe (uni) in Japan, Chile, and Norway, with welfare considerations around crowding, gonad conditioning, and whether urchins experience pain or suffering.
Sea urchins housed in high-density conditioning tanks compete for food and may experience stress responses, though the subjective nature of these remains uncertain. Overcrowded urchins show reduced gonad development, suggesting physiological stress. Harvesting by dredging or diving causes physical disturbance. Slaughter methods including live halving or boiling cause physiological stress responses. Given scientific uncertainty about urchin sentience, precautionary welfare measures — adequate space, food provision, and minimal physical trauma during processing — represent a reasonable standard of care.