The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries is currently gathering information on a sea star native to the West Coast in order to determine if the species should be protected by the Endangered Species Act.
The sunflower sea star, or Pycnopodia helianthoides, has seen a decline in population due to sea star wasting syndrome, which has possibly been exacerbated by warmer ocean conditions, an NOAA press release said. NOAA was petitioned by the Center for Biological Diversity in August 2021 to list the species as endangered or threatened.
“Surveys by divers and trawl vessels have found 80 to 100 percent declines in sunflower sea star abundance across nearly 2,000 miles of its range in Washington, Oregon, and California, according to peer-reviewed research,” the release said. “The outbreak of sea star wasting syndrome coincided with the heatwaves and has affected other sea stars, but none as severely as the sunflower sea star.”
The sunflower sea star measures up to 3 feet across, making it the second-largest sea star in the world, the release said. It is found in depths up to 400 feet in ocean waters from Alaska to Mexico, mostly within intertidal zones and near shorelines.
NOAA is currently soliciting information from knowledgeable members of the scientific and commercial communities, the release said. The administration aims to gather data “on the distribution, abundance, and status of this species, as well as information regarding factors affecting the species or its habitat.”
Information can be submitted to David Lowry at david.lowry@noaa.gov or, for Alaskan waters, Sadie Wright at sadie.wright@noaa.gov, the release said. The deadline for submissions is Feb. 25, with the final review of the species to be completed in August.
