Gonadal Development and Aquaculture of Sea Urchins

Sea urchin gonadal development is governed by a seasonal gametogenic cycle in which environmental cues, nutritional status and genetic factors converge to regulate gonad growth, maturation and spawning. The gonads, valued both as a culinary delicacy and a source of high‐value bioactive lipids, depend on the accumulation of proteins, carotenoids and long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) for optimal yield and organoleptic quality. Aquaculture practices have evolved from extensive wild harvesting towards intensive and semi‐intensive systems that apply targeted feeding regimes, selective breeding for stress tolerance and biotechnological tools to monitor metabolic pathways. Advances in molecular profiling now illuminate key genes involved in PUFA biosynthesis, while precision feeding with macroalgal supplements and tailored protein‐to‐lipid ratios enhances growth performance, gonadosomatic index and market‐relevant traits. Sustainable management further integrates spatial population assessments, temperature resilience and innovative “blue economy” models to reconcile commercial production with ecosystem health.

Research from Nature Portfolio

A study on a temperate sea urchin population characterised seasonal variations in gonad yield, biochemical composition and market‐related colour and texture traits, revealing that peak gonad indices coincide with pre‐spawning recovery and growth phases and that polyunsaturated fatty acids and carotenoid levels fluctuate markedly between sexes and seasons. Integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses in a commercially cultivated species identified key differentially expressed genes underpinning eicosapentaenoic acid accumulation during gonad growth, pinpointing desaturases and dehydrogenases whose expression mirrors PUFA levels in ovaries and testes. A controlled feeding trial compared two brown algae, demonstrating that one species promotes higher survival, energy storage and resistance traits at elevated temperatures, while the other enhances gonadal development and acute thermal tolerance, thereby guiding summer aquaculture feed choices and long‐line culture management.

Gonadal Development and Aquaculture of Sea Urchins publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in gonadal development and aquaculture of sea urchins across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Gonadosomatic index (GSI): The proportion of gonad weight to total body weight, used to quantify reproductive status and maturity.

Gametogenesis: The process by which germ cells develop into mature eggs or sperm within the gonads.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs): Essential fatty acids containing multiple double bonds, critical for cell membrane function, reproductive development and human nutrition.

Transcriptomics: The study of the complete set of RNA transcripts produced by the genome under specific conditions, revealing gene expression dynamics during development.

References

1. The effect of sex, season and gametogenic cycle on gonad yield, biochemical composition and quality traits of Paracentrotus lividus along the North Atlantic coast of Portugal. Scientific Reports (2019).
2. Integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses identify critical genes in eicosapentaenoic acid biosynthesis and metabolism in the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius. Scientific Reports (2020).
3. Effects of the brown algae Sargassum horneri and Saccharina japonica on survival, growth and resistance of small sea urchins Strongylocentrotus intermedius. Scientific Reports (2020).
4. Effects of Supplementary Kelp Feeding on the Growth, Gonad Yield, and Nutritional and Organoleptic Quality of Subadult Sea Urchin (Strongylocentrotus intermedius) with Soya Lecithin Intake History. Aquaculture Nutrition (2023).
5. Biosynthesis of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Sea Urchins: Molecular and Functional Characterisation of Three Fatty Acyl Desaturases from Paracentrotus lividus (Lamark 1816). PLOS ONE (2017).
6. Blue Growth: Sea Urchin Sustainable Aquaculture, Innovative Approaches. Revista de Biología Tropical (2021).