Stock Assessment of the Green Sea Urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) in Southern Breiðafjörður West Iceland

A dredge survey was conducted in September 2015 to provide the first assessment of sea urchin resources in southern Breiðafjörður (65°07´N, 22°31´W). An underwater photography of the sea floor was undertaken as well. The efficiency of the dredge was assessed by comparing the number of sea urchin/m² seen on photos to the number/m² caught by the dredge. The efficiency varied between sub-areas investigated with average of 29%. The whole area investigated was 9.7 km², consisting of seven sub-areas. Sea urchins were found in significant concentration in all sub-areas with the average density ranging from 1.7 to 6.9 ind/m². The density was correlated with depth and bottom topography. The mean density for all areas combined was 3.5 ind/m², giving a stock size of 2.700 tonnes.