# @sealegacy on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DN1J2doZD78
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/33714450-sealegacy-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/cc9632b6fe.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-08-26T19:50:05.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** SeaLegacy (@sealegacy) — https://gondola.cc/sealegacy

## Caption

When our cofounder paulnicklen slipped into the waters of the Poor Knights Islands, New Zealand, he found himself in an underwater paradise: golden kelp forests swaying in the current, a river of fish in every color, even a bronze whaler shark. 

But just a short distance away, the picture couldn’t have been more different. Instead of abundance, there was nothing but bare rock and sea urchins as far as he could see. Once a thriving kelp forest, it had been stripped down to rubble — now an urchin barren.

The Poor Knights thrive because they’re fully protected, but they’re one of the rare exceptions. Less than 0.5% of New Zealand’s waters are fully protected.

Why is New Zealand doing so little for its seas? How would full protections prevent an urchin barren? And how do we turn the tide?

Paul Nicklen shares the answers in his new essay with katiecouricmedia. Read it at the link in our bio!

Video by paulnicklen

#NewZealand #SeaUrchins #UrchinBarren #MPAs #Ocean #Explore

## Stats

- **Views:** 3,532
- **Likes:** 2,787
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 16

## Tags

mpas, seaurchins, urchinbarren, ocean, explore, newzealand

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