Sea urchin aquaculture is a growing industry with limited welfare standards, despite sea urchins showing behavioral responses that may indicate pain and distress.
Sea urchin sentience remains scientifically uncertain but behavioral evidence suggests they may have welfare relevant experiences. Farming conditions including density, handling methods, and slaughter are largely unregulated from a welfare perspective. Applying precautionary welfare principles to sea urchin farming prevents future welfare problems as the industry scales.