West Coast Starfish die off, Dec. 30

Starfish are dying on the West Coast, except for Oregon.  However, one pocket of what scientists are calling “Sea Star Wasting Disease,” was discovered on the Central Oregon Coast last April within the Tokatee Klootchman State Natural Site, eight-miles south of Yachats.  Officials are not sure what is causing the die off that has impacted Starfish populations from Alaska to Southern California.  The star fish quickly die and disintegrate into a white goo.   Similar die offs have occurred in the past.  Between 1976 and 1978, 99-percent of one species of Starfish died in the Gulf of California in Mexico.  Thirty-years later, the population still hasn’t recovered.  Marine scientists are keeping a close watch in Oregon for any breakouts of the disease.  A team of researchers plans to survey the Oregon Coast in late January.  Beachcombers can submit reports of sick or healthy starfish to crowd-sourced efforts at inaturalist.org or sickstarfish.com.