Sea urchins play critical ecological roles in marine ecosystems and are harvested commercially in large numbers. Their welfare status and the impacts of fishing are gaining attention.
Sea urchin welfare is characterized by significant scientific uncertainty. Their nervous systems are relatively simple, and the evidence for centralized pain processing is weak. However, they do show behavioral responses to harmful stimuli that suggest some form of aversive experience. The commercial urchin fishery, which involves collection and often extended live holding before sale, warrants attention from a precautionary perspective. Perhaps more significant is the ecological welfare impact: when urchin populations explode following predator removal, the resulting urchin barrens destroy habitat for millions of other marine animals whose welfare is better established.