Sea urchin species on brink of extinction after marine pandemic

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 2 min read 100% complete by Isaaq TomkinsDecember 11, 2025 at 06:00 AM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

A marine pandemic is causing mass die-offs of sea urchin species globally, threatening their extinction. Since 2021, populations of *Diadema africanum* in the Canary Islands have declined by up to 99.7%, with similar mass deaths observed in the Red Sea, Mediterranean, Caribbean, and western Indian Ocean. Sea urchins are "ecosystem engineers" that control algae growth, crucial for coral reef health and providing habitat for other marine life. Scientists are unsure of the exact cause but suspect human activity, such as shipping or altered currents, may be involved in the disease's transmission. The rapid disappearance of these urchins raises concerns about cascading effects on other marine species and overall ecosystem health.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Indian Ocean 30% Caribbean ×230% Red Sea ×240% Mediterranean 40% Madeira archipelago 50% Tenerife 60% Canary Island archipelago ×270% University of La Laguna 80% Iván Cano ×2100%

Keywords

sea urchin 100% marine pandemic 90% extinction 80% population decline 70% ecosystem engineers 60% diadema africanum 60% coral reefs 50% algal growth 50% marine creatures 40%