Maine's third most profitable fishery in the past, is continuing to exhibit the tell tale signs of depletion. Some fisherman blame the slide on shortened fishing seasons and increased catch restrictions. Scientists have evidence suggesting the decline indicates a substantial drop in Maine's urchin population. Added into the mix is the falling price of Uni, or urchin roe, in the fish markets of Japan. Maine urchin divers are working longer and harder to bring in the plentiful catches of years past, and they're bringing home less pay at the end of a typical wintry day at sea. The Department of Marine Resources is scrambling to put the data together for the Sea Urchin Council, but the management task is a daunting one. What will be done to save what remains of this boom and bust industry, and what will the change in bio-composition mean for the subtidal ecosystem of the Maine Coast?

Fishing for sea urchins is tough underwater work. Diving along Maine's rocky shoreline in the dead of winter, day after day, requires a special brand of diver. In an industry made up primarily of young men who push the bounds of diving safety, make fast cash, and go home, I found a few women who work the fishery their own way. Meet these urchin women, and see how their reasons for fishing compare to those of their male counterparts, and how their motivation is reflected in their approach to a rough day in the sea.