Marine Pandemic Threatens Sea Urchin Species in Canary Islands

A marine pandemic is pushing the Diadema africanum sea urchins in the Canary Islands to the brink of extinction, with a staggering population decrease of 99.7% in Tenerife and 90% off the Madeira archipelago since 2021, according to a study by Ivan Cano from the University of La Laguna.

This decline mirrors mass deaths observed in sea urchin species across the Red Sea, Mediterranean, Caribbean, and western Indian Ocean. Cano emphasizes that these sea urchins are crucial ecosystem engineers, controlling algal growth and providing habitat for various marine species.

Their loss has already been felt in regions like the Caribbean, where coral cover has halved. Although the exact cause of this pandemic is unknown, theories suggest human involvement through shipping, changes in currents, and abnormal wave activity.

Currently, the disease has not spread to other regions like Southeast Asia or Australia, but the potential for further outbreaks remains a concern.