BRISBANE, Australia (23 Nov 2000) -- The worst outbreak yet of crown of thorns starfish is causing severe damage to the Great Barrier Reef. According to chief executive officer of the Cooperative Research Centre for Reef Research, Dr Russell Reichelt, the crown of thorns starfish population has exploded in the central northern section of the reef and extends from Cairns in the north to as far south as Innisfail. "It's clearly the worst we've seen," he said. "We've seen three major outbreaks since people have been actively recording which means since scuba was invented, and it this is up there with the best of them. "It's causing huge damage to the central northern section of the Great Barrier Reef and it's very plausible that increased run-offs from the land is increasing the frequency and intensity of crown of thorns outbreaks." | | Crown of thorns starfish Many marine biologists believe that a major cause of the infestations is overcollecting of tritons, the major predator of starfish. Tritons are collected for their beautiful shells which sell for more than $100 each. In many areas throughout the Pacific, tritons are now endangered or locally extinct. © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORK |
