In early June, the Cook Islands government announced an all-out war on the crown-of-thorns starfish. This infamous coral-chomping invader jeopardizes the tenuous harmony of tropical coral reefs. In Cook Islands Maori, this invasive starfish is referred to as “taramea,” which literally means “spiky thing.” That risk is particularly dangerous given the fragility of coral ecosystems, susceptible to devastation by climate change. These outbreaks are increasingly common and severe, worsening from the Red Sea eastward across the Indian Ocean and across the Pacific Ocean. This dangerous path has primarily raised the ire of environmentalists and affected communities.
The crown-of-thorns starfish is beautiful in a way that turns heads. It has as many as 21 fleshy arms and its entire body is adorned with hundreds of venomous spines. Even fully grown it can expand beyond the size of a car tire, making this creature not only scary to look at but an incredibly powerful threat. As coral reefs are relatively low in nutrients, a typical adult human can eat over 10 m2 (110 ft2) of coral reef per year. This increasing voracious appetite is a serious danger. If allowed to run rampant, crown-of-thorns starfish can wipe out entire reefs surrounding the previously mentioned islands, with heartbreaking ecological ramifications.
The Method Behind the Madness
Teina Rongo, a local volunteer active in the removal efforts, tells us about the concrete approaches being used to fight this scourge. Rongo uses a wooden stick to help pry the crown-of-thorns starfish off corals. With the utmost reverence and skill, he whittles this stick down from the heavy lumber of the Pacific Ironwood tree. This two-step technique provides the volunteers with a way to dislodge the invasive starfish from the coral reef while limiting any further damage to the environment.
Every year, trained volunteers work in teams to manually cull thousands of crown-of-thorns starfish from local reefs. This community-led program does a remarkable job at the grassroots level defending critical, fragile ecosystems. These ecosystems not only provide essential habitats for marine life, but maintain healthy oceanic environments and overall marine biodiversity. These actions are crucial to ensuring the long-term health of coral reefs. They play a critical role in keeping starfish from inundating these reefs, already decimated by climate change and human activity.
Despite these local efforts, researchers have looked for technological solutions to tie up with traditional approaches. In Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, scientists have developed robots that actively hunt down crown-of-thorns starfish and inject them with poison to neutralize the threat. These innovations might help guide future innovations in the Cook Islands as they continue to push the frontier in the efforts to protecting their marine resources.
The Stakes are High
The stakes are incredibly high for the Cook Islands. Their booming tourism and fishing industries are entirely reliant on the health of amazing coral reefs. These diverse ecosystems nurture an abundance of marine life. They support nearby economies by drawing in tourism-generating activities such as snorkeling and diving. With climate change making every challenge tougher, the battle against crown-of-thorns starfish becomes an immediate priority.
Now, environmental specialists warn that crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks are occurring with increasing regularity. Not only are these crises widespread, they are worse than in past decades. Coral reefs Coral destruction has grave implications that extend well past the confines of the reefs. Declining reefs put biodiversity at risk and kill off fish populations that need thriving corals for shelter and nourishment.
That urgency to see something done on this issue is echoed by most community members we spoke to. Fostering awareness through education local leaders are working to raise awareness and education efforts regarding the crown-of-thorns starfish and its effects on coral ecosystems. Through workshops and community events, they aim to engage residents in conservation efforts, emphasizing that protecting their natural heritage is a shared responsibility.