CKTZ News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
While the many legged Sunflower Sea Star is now nearly extinct in most of the United States, there is still hope it may survive in British Columbia. Researchers have seen signs of recovery in a few areas, including the Discovery Islands, despite the threats to the marine population.
Continue reading UBC researcher says there’s hope for the Sunflower Sea Star[From the Archives: April 14, 2021]
Kelly Fretwell from the Hakai Institute recently described sea stars as wolves of the ocean floor.
The topic came up when I mentioned that they prey upon the oysters in Gorge Harbour, on Cortes Island.
Julia Rendall, President of the Bee Islets Growers Corporation, said they normally eat about a third of her crop. The bottom clusters are “all chewed, eaten.” She remembers the summer that Sea Star Wasting Disease reached the Gorge.
“That was the year I had the very best harvest, for shuck oysters,” said Rendall … I got about $8,000 a raft instead of $5,000.”
Continue reading Sea Stars – Wolves of the Ocean floorNational Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The magnificent sunflower sea star, once ubiquitous along the Pacific coast, is now critically endangered after more than 90 per cent of the species was wiped out by a marine epidemic ravaging its population.
Continue reading 90% of sunflower sea star population wiped outCanada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Every child who has ever explored a West Coast shore relishes the discovery of a sea star, with its bumpy skin, jumble of arms and striking colours.
But the once common treasure of the tidal pool is at risk of being eradicated along the Pacific coastline from a deadly combination of disease and warming oceans caused by climate change, said biologist Alyssa Gehman.
Continue reading Sea Star On Brink of Extinction
