Divers Train to Restore Reefs in NSW

The NSW government awarded a $1.48 million grant to an Aboriginal-led sea urchin enterprise on the south coast of New South Wales, Australia. Walbunja divers John Carriage and his cousin Denzel, previously facing jail time for cultural fishing, are now training as professional divers. This initiative aims to address a surge in long-spined sea urchins that have devastated roughly 50% of shallow reefs, turning them into barren rock.

The program, a partnership between diver Jamie Newman and the Indigenous non-profit Joonga Land and Water Aboriginal Corporation, will develop branded sea urchin products and organic fertilizer. Marine Biologist Cayne Layton notes that removing urchins can allow kelp and seaweed to regrow quickly, as seen at a trial site near Merimbula.

However, rising sea temperatures continue to expand the urchin’s range southward, impacting kelp forests across a 2,000-kilometer stretch of coastline. Researchers at the University of Wollongong are collaborating to build a sustainable business model, prioritizing Aboriginal leadership and economic benefit. The work to restore sea country and safeguard cultural practices continues.