An invasion of sea urchins is threatening to turn large areas of the world’s seabed into desert-like barrens. But thanks to Norwegian research, businesses now have an economic incentive to rid the waters of these destructive pests.

Warm water and “sea star wasting disease” helped urchins take over the coast, a new study finds.

PALO ALTO, California, US -- A sea urchin ranching company has secured a sought-after permitted aquaculture facility in California, its first site in the US and hopes to begin operations by late next year.

PURPLE SEA URCHINS ARE INVADING CALIFORNIA’S COAST. THE STARTUP URCHINOMICS HAS ONE SOLUTION: EAT THEM.

Tens of millions of voracious purple sea urchins that have already chomped their way through towering underwater kelp forests in California are spreading north to Oregon, sending the delicate marine ecosystem off the shore into such disarray that other critical species are starving to death.

Tens of millions of voracious purple sea urchins that have already chomped their way through towering underwater kelp forests in California are spreading north to Oregon, sending the delicate marine ecosystem off the shore into such disarray that other critical species are starving to death. It's similar to what has been reported in B.C.

Tens of millions of voracious purple sea urchins that have already chomped their way through towering underwater kelp forests in California are spreading north to Oregon, sending the delicate marine ecosystem off the shore into such disarray that other critical species are starving to death.

Tens of millions of voracious purple sea urchins that have already chomped their way through towering underwater kelp forests in California are spreading north to Oregon, sending the delicate marine ecosystem off the shore into such disarray that other critical species are starving to death.

Tens of millions of voracious purple sea urchins that have already chomped their way through towering underwater kelp forests in California are spreading north to Oregon, sending the delicate marine ecosystem off the shore into such disarray that other critical species are starving to death.

Tens of millions of voracious purple sea urchins that have already chomped their way through towering underwater kelp forests in California are spreading north to Oregon, sending the delicate marine ecosystem off the shore into such disarray that other critical species are starving to death.

Urchin barrens are the new normal in the once-flourishing ecosystem.

BODEGA BAY (KPIX 5) — Despite the unrivaled beauty of the California coast line, UC Davis scientists say that just below the surface, the famous Kelp Forest is in serious trouble due to warmer ocean temperatures.