Continuing with the project to reduce the numbers of sea urchins in Lanzarote, the local dive schools are heading to Playa del Jablillo on Sunday 15th November 2009. La consejera de Pesca del Cabildo de Lanzarote Nereida Pérez will meet the 50 volunteer divers at 10am on the beach before they head into the water to cull the species Diadema Antillarum which locally is known as the Lime Urchin (Erizo de Lima). It might seem harsh treatment for the urchin but a fine balance of urchin and algae is required for a good fish population and for the reefs to keep regenerating, creating a healthy marine life.
There was a similar exercise completed recently in September at Playa Chica in Puerto del Carmen. The project was launched back in 2007 and in areas where the urchin has been cleared, progress has been made with the reappearance of plant and fish life.
You can read more about the Erizo de Lima in our previous post Sea Urchin Project.
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