Global Wave of Sea Urchin Die-Offs Triggers Ocean Health Alarm

An international study documents an unprecedented die-off of black sea urchins (Diadema africanum) in the Canary Islands beginning in 2022, with widespread adult mortality preventing juvenile recruitment and risking local extinction; the die-off appears connected to other regional outbreaks (Caribbean, Gulf of Oman, Réunion) and could signal a broader marine epidemic threatening reef ecosystems, though the Canary Island cause is not yet confirmed; citizen-science data aided the assessment, underscoring the need for monitoring and protection of remaining urchin populations.