Mass Sea Urchin Deaths Threaten Eilat Coral Reefs

“The mass mortality of sea urchins in the Mediterranean Sea has spread to the Gulf of Eilat and threatens to destroy the coral reef,” a Tel Aviv University research team, led by Dr. Omri Bronstein, warns.Sea urchins in general, and black sea urchins, known as Diadema setosum, in particular, are essential for coral reefs’ healthy functioning. Without them, a coral reef can become dominated and overcome by algae.