Global News - January 2008

< Back to Global News

Starfish outbreak 'destroying' Coral Triangle

Thu 17 January 2008 12:50 UK — Asia,Marine Wildlife

An outbreak of predatory starfish is threatening the world's richest coral reef habitat, Asia's 'Coral Triangle'.

The spread of the crown of thorns starfish has already destroyed a large amount of the coral reef off the coast of Indonesia, a study carried out by the Australian Research Council (Arc) in association with conservation groups revealed.

A member of the study team has now warned that the problem could affect even more of the Coral Triangle, which spreads between the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

"Once you've got an outbreak, there's almost nothing you can do to stop it. The only way to ensure you've got some reef left at the end of it is to protect lots of other areas," Dr Andrew Baird, a member of the Arc team, told the Age website.

"Humans are exacerbating the problem because we put too many nutrients in the water," he added, speaking to Reuters. "There are lots of micro-algae and the larvae of the crown of thorns feed on the algae."

Australia's famous Great Barrier Reef has experienced three outbreaks of crown of thorns starfish since the 1960s, recovering due to its large populations of herbivorous fish, the expert explained.

Help IAR rescue and rehabilitate endangered wildlife.

News brought to you by International Animal Rescue, leaders in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.

< Back to Global News   |   Read IAR News

Read IAR News >