Urchin Barrens

Urchin barrens are large, open areas on the ocean floor where sea urchins have overgrazed kelp forests, destroying the habitat. This typically happens when predators like sea otters decline, allowing urchin populations to explode. Without their natural predators, urchins feed heavily on kelp, resulting in a barren landscape with few other marine plants or animals. These barrens negatively impact biodiversity and coastal ecosystems, reducing fish populations and disrupting marine food webs. Effective management involves restoring predator populations and controlling urchin numbers to help kelp forests recover.