Sea urchins abroad and while traveling: are they dangerous, where do you encounter them, where can you see them?

What are sea urchins?

• Many people have seen the black sea urchin, but did you know that sea urchins come in all shapes and sizes? There are almost 1,000 known species of sea urchins.
• General characteristics are that they are spiny and invertebrate and, of course, live in the sea. They often have hard, coloured spines.
• Sea urchins mainly eat algae, seaweed and other organic material. They are important for healthy coral reefs, because they help maintain the balance between algae and coral.
• Sea urchins can live for hundreds of years!
• In Japan people eat sea urchins. The fleshy sexual organs are often eaten raw. This seafood is also a traditional delicacy in, for example, Italy, New Zealand, Chile and the Philippines.

Where to see sea urchins in the wild abroad?

• Sea urchins can be found in all oceans. Most are found on the coast, but they also occur in the deep sea up to at least 7,000 meters!
• They like to cling to things, such as reefs, rocky shores and other hard objects.

How dangerous are sea urchins?

• The vast majority of sea urchins are not poisonous to humans. However, a sea urchin spine in your foot can be an unpleasant experience.
• If you step on a sea urchin, you should first try to remove the needles completely with tweezers. If the whole thing becomes infected, a visit to the doctor is essential.
• Some sea urchins also have poison in their spines. This can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and difficulty breathing, but this is very rare.
• Wearing water shoes can prevent a lot of disaster.

What are the most dangerous types of sea urchins and why?

• It looks beautiful, but the Flower Urchin is also the most poisonous sea urchin. It is found in coral reefs, between sea grass and on rocky and sandy bottoms, especially in the tropical Indo-West Pacific Ocean.

What to do if you encounter a sea urchin in the wild?

• It is best to maintain sufficient distance!
• Sea urchins are slow and don't go after you, but accidentally stepping on it can be a nasty experience

Which diseases can humans get from a sea urchin?

• The most common risk is that you get an infection at the place where the needles have entered your body.
• You can also suffer from a feeling of weakness, shock, pain in your muscles and even in exceptional cases, paralysis.
• In most cases, the pain goes away after a few days. Are you worried? Then it is best to visit a pharmacy or doctor.

What should you do if you are stung by a sea urchin?

• First try to remove the needles. Do this very carefully, because they break off very easily. Then wash the area thoroughly with soap and water.
• If you still feel pain after several days, if it seems to be getting infected, if you have weakness or pain in your muscles, paralysis or extreme fatigue, then you should definitely see a doctor.