Saving Sea Stars: Connecting Fresno to California’s Ocean Conservation
Scientists are working to restore endangered sunflower sea stars to California’s coastal waters.
Over 90% of these remarkable animals were devastated by sea star wasting disease beginning in 2013. Their disappearance has contributed to an overpopulation of sea urchins that consume kelp forests, destroying important habitat for fish and countless other marine animals.
This year, NOAA announced that researchers had tested seawater samples from 39 California coastal locations using a new sunflower sea star-specific eDNA method.
Positive detections occurred at six different sites in Mendocino, Sonoma and San Mateo counties. The San Mateo detection was particularly significant because it represented the first detection south of San Francisco in approximately a decade.
There was another encouraging discovery: researchers located a group of 18 wild sunflower stars near Sea Ranch in Sonoma County. Unlike eDNA detections, these were actual animals observed by divers.
eDNA detects genetic material in seawater. It doesn't establish how many animals are present, whether they are reproducing successfully, or whether populations are increasing.
In another encouraging step toward restoring California’s endangered sunflower sea stars, scientists from the Sunflower Star Laboratory and several partner organizations recently returned 16 captive-raised sunflower stars to the ocean floor in Monterey Bay for a month-long research project. The sea stars were initially placed in protective enclosures, where researchers studied their feeding behavior and their ability to control sea urchins. The results were remarkable. Not only did the sea stars readily consume urchins, but 99% of adult urchins within three feet of the enclosures moved away in response to the predators’ presence.
Following the enclosed experiments, researchers conducted 18 temporary releases, allowing the young sea stars to roam freely across the ocean floor for periods of up to two hours. Divers closely monitored each animal, observing its behavior and interactions with other marine life before carefully collecting it and returning it to human care. These were experimental releases rather than permanent reintroductions, but they represent an important milestone. By demonstrating that captive-raised sunflower stars can feed and behave naturally in the ocean, scientists are developing the knowledge needed to eventually restore wild populations and help California’s struggling kelp forests recover.
https://sunflowerstarlab.org/sunflower-star-laboratory-restoration-research/
Although Fresno is more than 100 miles from the Pacific Ocean, our connection to California’s coastal ecosystems is closer than many people realize.
California’s rivers, mountains, valleys, and the ocean are all connected. Healthy coastal ecosystems support California’s fisheries, wildlife, economy, and natural heritage.
And while Fresno may be miles from the coast, the next generation of ocean scientists, conservationists, and environmental stewards may be growing up right here in the Valley.
That’s one of the reasons Aquarius Aquarium Institute has been bringing our living Teaching Tidepools® marine animals directly to our communities.
By introducing children and families to sea stars, anemones, crabs, snails and other tide pool animals, we help them understand that these creatures are not simply interesting to observe. They are essential parts of ecosystems worth protecting.
Our vision for the Fresno Aquarium includes helping conserve and propagate marine invertebrates, in addition to other saltwater and freshwater animals, contributing to the broader effort to protect California’s remarkable marine and riparian biodiversity.
We don’t have to live beside the ocean to help protect its future. By inspiring young people here in the Valley, we're helping ensure that California’s marine ecosystems remain healthy for generations to come.