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Starfish disease found on Oregon coast

A starfish suffers from sea star wasting disease, missing one arm and with tissue damage to another, in this undated photograph. (Associated Press)
A starfish suffers from sea star wasting disease, missing one arm and with tissue damage to another, in this undated photograph. (Associated Press)

MARINE LIFE — A disease that has been killing starfish on the West Coast has been found in Oregon.

Oregon Coast Aquarium divers at the entrance to Yaquina Bay on April 27 found starfish with “sea star wasting disease” that causes their arms to fall off and turn to goo.

Divers will survey coastal waters through October to monitor the disease and perhaps help determine the cause.

Others can report sick or healthy starfish online at inaturalist.org and sickstarfish.com.

Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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