APRIL 1995 NEWSLETTER

ECO-FRIENDLY CONTROL TECHNIQUES FOR CROWN-OF-THORNS STARFISH

CRC Chief Investigators for crown of thorns starfish project (1.6.2), Dr Brian Lassig and Udo Engelhardt report on a new chemical agent to control localised starfish outbreaks.

Our field experiments have so far proved successful in injecting a new 'dry acid' compound, sodium bisulphate, into crown of thorns. Mortality rates are similar to those reported for copper sulphate, the chemical previously used in small scale eradication programs.

Divers have been trialing the new dry acid compound in an attempt to find more environmentally acceptable killer-chemicals and more efficient methods for eradicating local starfish outbreaks. The trials on reefs off Cairns have received a positive response from local tourist operators. Sodium bisulphate has been found to be safe to handle, easy to apply and a lethal eradication agent.

During the six months from July to December last year, GBRMPA received starfish sighting reports on 300 individual reefs. This high number of reports from many Reef user groups demonstrates the strong public support for the COTSWATCH scheme and also reflects the growing interest in Reef research issues by the tourism industry. Workshops and updates on the current status of crown of thorns starfish have been presented to a number of tourist operators in the Cairns and Port Douglas area.

We have prepared a manual to help researchers, managers and industry groups conduct small-scale crown of thorns control programs and plan to run regional half-day training courses to help community groups learn these new techniques.

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