Lead Agency: Dr John Keane, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS)
End Date: 31 August 2020
Status: IN PROGRESS
Aims and Objectives:
Liming has been used in North America and Norway as an effective method to remove urchins from extensive large scale barrens and promote algal community recovery and the re-establishment of a healthy biodiverse reef ecosystem. The aim of this preliminary liming project is to determine the effectiveness and feasibility of using quicklime on Centrostephanus in Tasmania, and determine if large scale investment and field trials and application technology are warranted.
Update 23/06/2021:
Lab trials determining optimal particle size and application rates of quicklime to induce mortality in Longspined Sea Urchin have been completed. Additional trials have also been conducted to determine the effect of quicklime at these optimal rates on Abalone and an array of other reef invertebrates. Initial findings suggest that moderate mortality in Abalone will likely restrict this control method to extensive barrens where abalone are absent should the use of this removal tool be progressed.
Featured image: Scott Ling, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies
