Kina belong to the Echinometridae family.  They have a hard, spherical shell covered in dark brownish-green spines.  Inside is a star-shaped mass of yellow to orange-coloured gonads in the males or roe in the females.

Kina Fishery

The species is found only in New Zealand, but there are about 500 species of sea urchins worldwide.  Kina are widespread along New Zealand coasts down to 50 metres, with the main concentrations found between the sub-tidal zone and 15 metres.

The best harvest time is from August to January.

New Zealand's Kina fishery is managed by strict quotas, which allow only a set amount of Kina to be taken commercially each year. This Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) was set at 1,147 metric tonnes for the 2009/10 fishing year.

Kina Meat Quality

Kina is sought for its delicate, smooth, buttery roe.  The male roe is silkier, the female roe is slightly more grainy.

For meal ideas using Kina, check out recipes on the Greatest Meal on Earth website.