A new study into the commercial farming of sea urchins on the New South Wales mid-north coast - may open the door for local industries to lucrative overseas markets.

The research by the Coffs Harbour Marine Science Centre is trialling new innovative technology to boost the large scale production of live sea urchins for overseas export.

In Japan sea urchin row is a tasty delicacy that is fuelling the country’s sushi industry worth $200 million a year and the hope is that this project will give local industries a leg up in accessing that market.

The species being bred in Coffs Harbour is the same as the species that is native to the Japanese Island of Okinawa, where the wild harvests are being depleted.

"The innovative technology we have developed here to produce baby sea urchins is world beating in efficiency, says Associate Professor Symon Dworjanyn.

"We've sorted out how to close the cycle in a lab and produce millions upon millions of them.

"We'll be exporting juveniles to Japan so that they can grow on, but we've also got quite a few companies here in Australia that are interested in growing the sea urchins here and exporting the the live or processed row.

Exciting potential for jobs growth: Local MP

Member for Cowper Luke Hartsuyker said the technology would give local business people involved in aquaculture a fantastic opportunity to branch out into sea urchin farming and grow a profitable business.

"Improving the efficiency and Industry standards could mean a tangible benefit to our region in terms of job creation and economic flow on effect," he said

"We see a massive increase in the agricultural sector, its expected to grow by 23.7 per cent.

An industry such as this has the potential to increase that growth and I know a range of suppliers that are interested in growing sea urchins.

Professor Dworjanyn said the global demand for commercially farmed sea urchins are growing rapidly as stocks in the wild continue to dwindle.

"The price of these urchins is going up by 10 per cent a year," he said.

"Traditionally this market has been supplied by wild caught sea urchins but over the years the stocks of these wild caught sea urchins have gone down and we need to find a new supply and our solution is to farm the sea urchins."

Global demand growing for "yummy" delicacy

Researchers expect the market demand to grow given an increase in popularity of sea urchins among diners in China.

"The size of this market is absolutely massive.

"But in the years to come the growing Chinese market will in the years to come overshadow this by many times.

When asked about why sea urchins are such a delicacy Professor Dworjany simply said "they're yummy".

If you think about a cross between an Oyster and a Lobster, they're incredibly rich and creamy.

You'll find these right across the world in Europe and their full of nutritional goodness".