Sea urchin

In Sardinia, the female sea urchin is highly valued for its eggs or gonads. The sea urchin is an invertebrate marine organism, belonging to the class Echinoidea due to the massive presence of spines. There are about 950 types worldwide, although they are not considered as food everywhere.

The urchin lives on the seabed and feeds on Posidonia, and is very common in the Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic. In nature, its main enemies are predatory fish such as Giltheads and Seabreams, which are greedy for its eggs.

Once harvested, the urchin is cut open with a knife or scissors and the eggs are removed from inside, which can also be eaten freshly with bread and good red wine. Other recipes that have become classics are pasta and pizza with urchins.

The most famous festival in Sardinia is that of the Bogamarí (sea urchin in Alghero dialect) and takes place in Alghero between February and April, the period when this invertebrate is most tasty and meaty.

In Sardinia, fishing and marketing of sea urchin is generally permitted, unless otherwise decided by the Sardinian Regional Government, from 16 November to 17 April.