Divers clear crown-of-thorns starfish to protect Penghu coral
Divers clear crown-of-thorns starfish to protect Penghu coral
2025-06-24
Populations of the “coral killer” crown-of-thorns starfish have exploded recently near Penghu’s Qimei islet, severely threatening the survival of the area’s reefs. In response, the Ocean Conservation Administration has launched a starfish removal project to protect Penghu’s precious marine resources.
In the waters near Penghu’s Qimei islet, divers swimming near the ocean floor spot a crown-of-thorns starfish spread out over a coral reef. They take a long pair of tongs and remove it into a bag.
This is a defensive war to remove the “coral killer” crown-of-thorns starfish. Also called the “devil starfish,” the creature mainly eats coral. Its spines also have cells that secrete venom. Mature starfish can reach 80cm in size, and each one can eat 4 to 6 square meters of coral by itself.
Chen Chung-hsing
Penghu Water Recreation Activities Association
With the greenhouse effect and climate change, all kinds of areas are appearing that have water temperatures suitable for crown-of-thorns starfish. On top of that, there are fewer natural predators. It’s horrible. It affects the entire ecosystem.
The starfish are starting to appear all around Penghu in ever larger numbers. It’s worst near Qimei, where the Ocean Conservation Administration and local groups are working together to remove them.
Chen Chung-hsing
Penghu Water Recreation Activities Association
Crown-of-thorns starfish have toxin, a neurotoxin. So even after they die and dry out, it’s still dangerous if you get pricked. We suggest using very long tongs and wearing protective gloves.
These first few outings have been able to control their density and reduce damage to coral, but they plan to continue monitoring their numbers to protect the fragile coral ecosystems around Penghu.
#starfish #crownofthornstarfish #coralreefs #coralkiller #marinelife #Penghu #scubadiving #ecosystem #climatechange
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珊瑚殺手！澎湖七美海域「棘冠海星」大爆發 海保署啟動清除作業
2025-06-24
在澎湖七美海域，號稱是珊瑚殺手的"棘冠海星"，數量大爆發，嚴重危害珊瑚礁生態，海保署正式啟動棘冠海星清除作業，要守護澎湖珍貴的海底資源。
澎湖七美海域，潛水人員潛到海底深處，看到趴在珊瑚礁上面的棘冠海星，立刻拿出長夾子移除，裝進袋子裡。
這是一場生態保衛戰，要清除號稱是珊瑚殺手的棘冠海星。牠又被稱為魔鬼海星，主要食物就是珊瑚，牠的表層上有毒胞，會分泌劇毒，成熟體型最大可以長到80公分，每隻海星甚至可以啃食4到6平方公尺的珊瑚礁。
[[澎湖水域遊憩活動同業公會理事長 陳中行]]
“隨著溫室效應、氣候變遷，各種棘冠海星適合生存的水溫條件出現，再加上牠自然界的天敵又越來越少。很可怕的就會影響到整個生態。”
澎湖多處海域，陸續發現棘冠海星，數量明顯上升，又以七美海域最嚴重，海保署和民間單位共同啟動移除作業。
[[澎湖水域遊憩活動同業公會理事長 陳中行]]
“棘冠海星因為有劇毒、神經毒，即使死後、曬乾後刺到還是會受傷，我們建議用長夾子，戴好防護手套。”
這幾次的潛水清除任務，初步達成控制族群密度，減輕珊瑚危害，後續也會持續監控棘冠海星的數量，有效守護澎湖脆弱的珊瑚生態系。
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