Urchin fishing is enforced by strict regulations on the Mediterranean coast.
Fishing regulations
To protect the reproduction of species, fishing is authorised from 1 November to 15 April each year. Enquire at the department of marine affairs to find out fishing locations.
The number of urchins per catch and per fisher is restricted to a maximum of four dozen, free diving or gathering on foot.
The diameter of the urchin must be a minimum 50 millimetres (so 5 cm) around the test (shell without the spines).
Urchin breeding is currently at the experimental stage on île de Ré. However, they grow very slowly and breeding is not proving to be very profitable so far. Sea urchins have been bred in Corsica for some time now.
To preserve this iconic species of our endangered wildlife on the Mediterranean coast, it is important that each of us takes responsibility and follows the regulations in force.
Fishing methods
In the past, professional fishers would look for urchins on the sea bed from their boat or 'pointu' as it's called locally. They would then cast a net to catch urchins from the rocks below or the posidonia plants and drag it along behind their boat. This method of fishing was prohibited because it destroyed the sea bed.
Another fishing technique used by fishermen in the past consisted of collecting urchins from the boat and, in calm conditions, using a 'grappe' or urchin claw (double hook at the end of a long wooden rod). A reflective tile or mirrored bucket was used to see the sea bed. Fishermen also poured oil on to the water which flattened the sea and made the sea bed more easily visible.
Nowadays, amateur fishers use a mask, fins and snorkel. When free diving, fishers, armed with a 'grappe', detach urchins from the sea bed and gather them in a net.
