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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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7

New England Starfish Boom Baffles Experts

Shellfish predators' population worries fishermen

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(Newser) – New England beaches are swarming with starfish this spring, and nobody’s sure why, the Boston Globe reports. The spike may be connected to shellfish population; it could be due to a drop in spider crabs, which prey on starfish; it could be tied to water temperature or wind patterns. Whatever the cause, the “vast carpets” of the animals are worrying some fishermen: The creatures eat shellfish.

Their unusual shape may wow children, but the way starfish eat “is totally disgusting,” says a shellfish growers’ advocate: They attach to shells and pull them open, then push their stomachs into the shell, expelling digestive fluids. They then eat their dissolved victims. But some are pleased by the surge: It may be a consequence of cleaner water resulting from anti-pollution efforts.

Starfish are booming in New England.
Starfish are booming in New England.   (Shutterstock)
Some fishermen are worried about the starfish population's threat to shellfish.
Some fishermen are worried about the starfish population's threat to shellfish.   (Shutterstock)
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riffran
Jun 15, 09 4:08 PM CDT
so it's LESS pollution?...causing the issue?......lol....As with the whole issue of whether it's global warming, or cyclic climate change......There is no consensus...and too many factors...could be all of the listed or none of the listed..or even some unknown factor.........BUT the whole cleaner water from pollution controls is a good thing regardless.....if not further damaged or aggravated, an ecosystem will eventually stabilize and normalize...maybe this is a part of that? Reply
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flame821
Jun 15, 09 9:46 PM CDT
Oddly enough, shellfish (and other bottom feeders, particularly oysters) due better in dirty water, there is much more for them to eat, although that often renders the well-fed oyster too toxic for human consumption. I would be surprised if they haven't come up with a way to 'farm' shellfish like they do other fish. That way the sea stars can go about their life cycle without having to deal with human intervention.
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Rob
Jun 16, 09 11:43 AM CDT
What it possibly is, is a perturbed ecosystem. Just because there are a lot of starfish doesn't mean that's a good sign of anything. And flame, they are filter feeders not bottom feeders. They don't really like dirty water, but they do like water cloudy with biological material.
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Cat-Lover
Jun 15, 09 5:38 PM CDT
They eat their prey after "expelling digestive juices?" Into the water?? And we drink that??? Aughhhhhh. Reply
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SalParadise
Jun 15, 09 6:42 PM CDT
You're clearly been drinking too much salt water.
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