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Learn to Identify Centro​​

Tasmania is home to many urchin species, one of which looks similiar to ​​​​Centro. Knowing how to identify Centro is an important step in tackling this range-extending species.

Centro live in rocky reefs and crevices. They are large (body size up to 10cm wide), and appear black, with long and slender spines.

Key ID Features:​Spines:

• Hollow
• Longer than body
  
• Black/purple/brown with a subtle green iridescence

Body colour:

• Deep red/black body
  

Download our ID guide and learn to differentiate between Tasmania’s native Shortspined Sea Urchin (Helio) and Longspined Sea Urchin (Centro):

 Identify Tasmanian Urchins (PDF 2Mb)

Harvest and Eat Centro Roe

If you come across Centro while snorkelling or diving, try harvesting yourself. Handle carefully and gently to avoid pricking your skin with the sharp spines. Fishing rules, such as seasonal and bag limits can be found he​re​, although ther​e aren't currently any for Centro.

Watch this video on how to open the shell and extract the delicious roe, which is best eaten fresh. It’s also a luxurious addition in sushi, pasta, risotto, and scrambled eggs.

Go to Gotta Love Tassie Seafood to find recipes, including Tassie Chef Massimo Mele’sSea Urchin Spaghetti.

Buy Centro Roe

Keep your eyes out at fish markets and restaurants for Centro roe (uni), or ask them to put Centro on the menu! You can purchase fresh Centro roe from:

• Salty Roe Tasmania
  
• Tasmania Sea Urchin 
  
• Ashmore Southern Fish Markets 
  
• Candy Abalone 
  
• The Roe 
  
• Mures​
  
• Oscar Tasmanian Seafood​
  
• Sydney Fish Markets​
  

Centro roe can be found on menus at restaurants such as Pitzi, ​Peppina​, Kelp, Mures Upper Deck​ and Masaaki's Sushi​. You may be able to find vendors at major Tasmanian summer food festivals.

Are you also stocking  or serving Centro? Let us know, centro.enquiries@nre.tas.gov.au

Try Some on Tour!

There are two unique tourism experiences in Hobart where you can try Tasmanian sea urchin on the water. It's caught fresh in front of you and served on the boat, along with a range of other delicious local seafood:

Tasmanian Seafood Seduction​

Tasmanian Wild Seafood Adventures

Education & Resources​​​​

​Spread the word, and inspire the next generation to understand the value of our Great Southern Reef and what they can do to help.

• ​​Interactive maps: Read about sea urchin barrens on Tasmania's Marine Atlas​, with interactive maps to show changes over time.
  
• Useful downloads: NRM South have resources for educational purposes: 
  

•  Longspined Sea Urchin Fact Sheet (PDF 211Kb)

•  Longspined Sea Urchin Classroom Guide (PDF 210Kb)

  

•  Longspined Sea Urchin ID Guide (PDF 325Kb)​
  
  

• About the Great Southern Reef: The Great Southern Reef Foundation has a range of resources for teaching ocean literacy about these ecosystems in the classroom. Go to greatsouthernreef.com/teacher-guides​

Report Centro

Report sightings of Centro or Centro barrens to help scientists and fishery managers better understand the range extension and impacts on the environment.

Email centro.enquiries@nre.tas.gov.au if you see any extensive barrens in your area.​

Email enquiries@redmap.org.au​​ if you see a Centro or a barren in Tasmanian waters south of Tasman Peninsula, or anywhere along Tasmania's western and northern coasts. Redmap​ uses this citizen science data to map range-extending species in response to changing marine environments.

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