Several weeks ago, I went to a dive club talk by Nancy Caruso from Get Inspired - Get Inspired - Get Inspired She put me in touch with Keith Rootsaert of the Giant Giant Kelp Restoration Project - Giant Giant Kelp Restoration Project - up in Monterey Bay. Based on the science both organizations have done, the most effective way to reduce the urchin populations is basically smashing them with a hammer. The hammer of choice, documented at Links for G2KR Volunteers, is a welding hammer from Home Depot for about $13. The Harbor Freight equivalent is supposedly less comfortable after smashing a hundred or so urchins, but only costs about $7. There is little to no danger of smashing urchins causing them to spawn further. Now, if only conditions start to improve after all the winter storms I can go out and test my new hammer.
