Posted by kelphead on June 21, 2001 at 19:34:08:
In Reply to: Re: Attack of the purple sea urchins posted by Steve on June 19, 2001 at 23:07:28:
i get the impression that back east breaking open
a sea urchin is considered a 'no-no', but
my open water instructor actually suggested
during our class time to do just that with
the (purple) sea urchins out here.
i have done it (and wouldn't hesitate to do
it again, if i carry my knife again), but
think about it for a minute: if so many divers
went out and killed as many sea urchins as they
saw morally fit to do so, then they may be
creating a problem in reverse. in other words,
breaking open a few sea urchins won't hurt
anyone/thing (except, of course, the individual
sea urchins), but perhaps we shouldn't end up
demonizing them like humans like to demonize
certain animals (or even other humans) so as
not to create an ecological problem in the
opposite direction.
sea urchins--of all species--were created/evolved
for a specific ecological function, so who are we
to say they shouldn't be allowed to exist.
but since there is an acclaimed abundance of
them, then i personally wouldn't feel bad
feeding a few of them to the fish while
i was diving.
(...it always comes back to moderation, doesn't it...?...)
= : )
kelphead.