Species profile
Arctic Green Sea Urchin
Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis
Identify Arctic Green Sea Urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) from a photo: try it free in your browser, or get unlimited IDs, no sign-up, with the CatchRules app. Plus current fishing rules across 4 jurisdictions.
At a glance
Arctic Green Sea Urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) is an echinoderm regulated in 5 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 12 (British Columbia); the most generous is 18 (Washington).
Confirmed by 6,461 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with British Columbia, Maine, and Washington the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Can live up to 50 years, making it one of the longer-lived sea urchin species.
- Heavily harvested for its roe, sold as uni — a prized delicacy in Japanese sushi.
- Test diameter typically reaches 2 to 3 inches in adult populations.
- Found across subarctic and boreal coasts of both the North Atlantic and North Pacific.
- When otter populations decline, urchin numbers boom and can strip entire kelp forests bare.
Where Arctic Green Sea Urchin are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Arctic Green Sea Urchin
Background
Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis is commonly known as the green sea urchin because of its characteristic green color. It is commonly found in northern waters all around the world including both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans to a northerly latitude of 81 degrees and as far south as the Puget Sound (Washington State) and England. The average adult size is around 50 mm (2 in), but it has been…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Arctic Green Sea Urchin article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Frequently asked questions
What is Arctic Green Sea Urchin?
Arctic Green Sea Urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) is an echinoderm regulated in 5 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
What is the scientific name for Arctic Green Sea Urchin?
Arctic Green Sea Urchin is Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis.
Is Arctic Green Sea Urchin regulated for fishing?
Yes — Arctic Green Sea Urchin has fishing regulations in 4 U.S. states and/or Canadian provinces tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Arctic Green Sea Urchin?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules app for iPhone or Android — on-device identification recognizes Arctic Green Sea Urchin along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.