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Generalized life cycle of the green sea urchin: In the B.C. south coast spawning seems to occur from September to January. Mass fertilization occurs in water column. Fertilized eggs develop into free-swimming larvae or nauplii which drift and feed in plankton. After 6-8 weeks, larvae settle and change form into juvenile sea urchins. Often they seek aggregations of adults and remain under spines until mature. Sea urchins usually aggregate in areas where food is plentiful, with the preferred food being giant or bull kelp. Adult urchins may reach 851 mm and live to about 4 years old.