The taste of sea urchins, which are omnivorous, depends on what they eat and grow! Rishiri sea urchins, which grow on high-quality and abundant Rishiri kelp, are highly valued for their taste and are very popular. On the other hand, sea urchins are easy to harvest and their abundance is subject to fluctuation. The island has established various restrictions and is making efforts to obtain stable landings. The island also focuses on sea urchin aquaculture, and its center is the Sea Urchin Seedling Production Center. After collecting the parent sea urchins, collecting and fertilizing the eggs, the small sea urchins are raised to a size where they can be released into the sea, and then released into the coast of the island. Since the sea urchins feed on kelp, the center also releases the sea urchins in a way that balances the sea urchins and kelp so that the kelp does not become depleted, checks the growth of the sea urchins after release, and removes starfish, the natural enemy of the sea urchins.

We also offer guided tours for tourists and the general public, as well as hands-on learning opportunities for elementary school students and others. For more information, please contact us.