Urchinomics launches Urchinomics Australia Pty Ltd to accelerate restorative aquaculture and kelp forest recovery across Australasia

Urchinomics has announced the formation of Urchinomics Australia Pty Ltd (UAP), a wholly owned subsidiary established to scale the company’s proven urchin ranching and kelp restoration model across Australia.

The formation of UAP represents a major strategic milestone in Urchinomics’ global expansion, following successful development projects in Japan, North America and Europe.

Australia is home to some of the world’s most severely degraded kelp ecosystems due to exploding sea urchin populations. Urchinomics’ model addresses this ecological crisis by:

Removing overgrazing urchins from barrens

Restoring kelp forest ecosystems

Producing premium, ranch-finished uni for global sushi markets

Generating measurable environmental impact

“Urchinomics Australia marks a pivotal moment in our mission to turn marine ecological collapse into scalable economic opportunity,” said Giles Cadman, Chairman of Urchinomics. “Australia offers extraordinary potential for ecosystem recovery, premium seafood production, and climate impact.”

“Australia’s kelp ecosystem crisis is significant,  but so is the opportunity to do something about it at scale. Our goal is to deliver meaningful ecological restoration outcomes while creating a commercially viable, export-ready seafood business that Australia can be proud of.” — Shane McHugh, CEO, Urchinomics Australia Pty Ltd

UAP will work in collaboration with local fishing communities, First Nations stakeholders, research institutions, government, and impact-focused capital partners to develop regionally integrated urchin ranching and kelp restoration hubs.

The company expects initial development sites to focus on regions experiencing extensive urchin overgrazing and habitat loss in areas known as urchin barrens.

Urchinomics Australia will serve as the platform for:

The development and operation of industrial-scale urchin ranching facilities

Kelp restoration partnerships

Environmental credit development

Premium seafood export growth

This expansion reinforces Urchinomics’ position as the world’s leading restorative aquaculture company.