Video: Newest close-up look at the ‘sick starfish’ epidemic

Scientists still haven’t figured out what is causing the mass die-off of sea stars (aka “starfish,” though they’re not fish) in our waters and many other places along the Pacific Coast. The clip above, shared by West Seattle’s “Diver Laura” James, is the latest in-depth look at the crisis. Laura (and her dad!) are interviewed as part of the report, which was produced for China’s English-language network CCTV (you also can view it on the CCTV website here).

Meantime, as noted here earlier this month, your observations are important if you see starfish, living or dead – republishing what Laura told us during the recent low-low-low tides: “There’s a variety of ways to share the information – optimally through the surveys linked here. If people don’t have time to fill out a form if they could just use #sickstarfish [social-media hashtag] or manual entry on www.sickstarfish.com or even just e-mail me at ljjames@mac.com, it would be a massive help.” She is helping, as you’ll see in the CCTV story, as a “citizen scientist.”

5 Replies to "Video: Newest close-up look at the 'sick starfish' epidemic"

  • heather June 24, 2014 (6:15 pm)

    This is a pretty good video. I’m happy to see that the story is circulating in general news venues.

  • NW June 24, 2014 (9:34 pm)

    Not being of a science background nor finding myself walking upon our shorelines very often I feel kinda of helpless or not able to offer any help to this die off of starfish. What if anything can I do to be of help?

  • diverlaura June 25, 2014 (1:53 am)

    NW,

    You can still help… sharing any of the stories with friends and family, spreading the word, and also learning about and sharing ways we can all reduce pollution and help slow the impact of increasing population density on Puget Sound.

    Thank you for caring!

    Laura

  • RCS June 25, 2014 (11:26 am)

    It wouldn’t have anything to do with the radioactive disaster making its way over here from Japan would it?

  • Fukushima! June 26, 2014 (10:14 pm)

    Fukushima!

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