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Mystery over mass deaths of starfish

8:08pm Sunday 16th March 2008

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An investigation has been launched after hundreds of dead starfish appeared along the Sussex coastline.

Environment Agency officials say they do not know what could have killed the starfish which have been washed up at sites along Brighton beach.

Tonight the agency said it was sending a team of investigators to the shoreline to try to determine what has wiped out the creatures.

The agency does not believe the deaths were linked to the recent storms because groups of dead starfish had begun appearing in Kent days before the bad weather started.

It has also ruled out pollution or anything to do with climate change as the cause but said it could be a result of fishing techniques.

One theory being considered is that the starfish have been disturbed on the sea bed while feeding and have either been washed up or discarded by fishermen on the shore following mussel dredging.

Another idea is that the starfish had run out of mussels to eat and had moved into shallow water in the search for food.

An Environment Agency spokesman said: "We have sent two environment officers to the seaside to investigate what has happened with the starfish.

"Starfish congregate in vast numbers in some areas and feed on shellfish, so if the seabed was dredged then the starfish would inevitably have been caught in huge numbers."

The agency said the starfish bodies are not harmful and will probably be eaten over the next few days by seagulls.

People have told how crowds gathered along the seafront to inspect the "carpet" of colourful starfish.

Mia Soar, 27, of Alfred Road, Brighton, was walking along the seafront when she noticed the starfish by Brighton's Palace Pier.

She said: "From a distance I though I saw a seagull pick a starfish up and then drop it.

"I then went closer to the beach and it was littered with starfish."

Henry Knight, 25, of Bloomsbury Street, Brighton, said: "I was running along the seafront when I saw hundreds of them on the beach.

"I didn't know what it was so went over to have a look and couldn't believe when I saw it was loads of starfish.

"I thought they must have been washed onto the pebbles by the recent bad weather.

"Lots of people were looking at them and in some places it was like a carpet of starfish."

Members of the public can report any further incidents by calling the Environment Agency's hotline on 0800 807060.

What do you think killed the starfish? Tell us below

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Your Say YourThe Argus

Luvie, The Gutter says...
8:20pm Sun 16 Mar 08

This is an outrage. A clear case of marine ethnic cleansing of starfish by unethical fishermen. The government must act now to put an end to this kind of massacre. A new department should be set up for Starfish rights. The government needs more jobs for the boys!

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me, says...
8:28pm Sun 16 Mar 08

Luvie wrote:
This is an outrage. A clear case of marine ethnic cleansing of starfish by unethical fishermen. The government must act now to put an end to this kind of massacre. A new department should be set up for Starfish rights. The government needs more jobs for the boys!
something makes me think, you're not taking this very seriously

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steve, brighton says...
8:53pm Sun 16 Mar 08

I saw the same thing last November in Goa.The beach was covered in dead starfish.

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Tarquin, Kemp Town says...
9:13pm Sun 16 Mar 08

Look Luvs,

Dont know what the fuss is about.

Ive seen HUNDREDS of CHOCOLATE Star Fishes very close up on Kemp Town Beach.

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Hamlet's Soulmate, Nearer Than You Think says...
8:41am Mon 17 Mar 08

Expect starfish burgers to be on sale by Monday lunchtime at every dodgy seafront eaterie...

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stuart donaldson, Brighton says...
11:39am Mon 17 Mar 08

After 10 years of New Labour it's hardly surprising. I believe the starfish commmitted suicide as they could not take any more of living in Britain. I know EXACTLY how they feel!

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mark, says...
11:42am Mon 17 Mar 08

Tarquin wrote:
Look Luvs, Dont know what the fuss is about. Ive seen HUNDREDS of CHOCOLATE Star Fishes very close up on Kemp Town Beach.
Ive seen a load of rusty sheriffs badges too.

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Kickboxer, Worthing says...
12:01pm Mon 17 Mar 08

I have never taken cockles or drunk seawater but i do understand the reasons some do, I spent all of my childhood in starfish homes and other suchlike establishments, quite a lot of the people i grew up with are now dead through misuse of plankton because some went through such a harrowing time the only way they could forget was seaweed.I know this will not apply to all starfish on crustaceans but for some it is the only way they can cope, so please do not judge so harshly. sometimes common sense goes out of the window when you are hurting that much. I'm not having a go at any one I'm just trying to give you an understanding of the other side.

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Shareef Omar, says...
12:09pm Mon 17 Mar 08

All the Starfish have been stabbed! Yes? Only in Brighton! Yes?

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The real Kickboxer, Worthing says...
12:11pm Mon 17 Mar 08

Very funny! I wonder if you'll find it so funny when I chew your face off!!

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Lorraine, Brighton says...
12:23pm Mon 17 Mar 08

The thing is, they're not all dead. I picked a couple up and took them home. After I put them in a bucket of water for a few hours, they suddenly started moving around. A while later they were running around the house as if nothing had happened. We'd like to keep them as pets but have no idea what to feed them on (were using dog food for now). Does anyone know what they eat or anything about keeping them?

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Steve Stevens, Worthing says...
12:24pm Mon 17 Mar 08

I believe that this is a mass Starfish Suicide in protest at all the debauched and rude things you perverts of Sussex are getting up to after visting one of those vile local Sex Outlets ... May you all be struck down

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Freddie, says...
12:24pm Mon 17 Mar 08

Why is everyone ignoring the obvious; the Starfish were only trying to join all the other STARS who were running for Sports Relief, but didn't have the legs to climb over the shingle.

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Reg, Shoreham says...
12:27pm Mon 17 Mar 08

Lorraine wrote:
<b> The thing is, they're not all dead. I picked a couple up and took them home. After I put them in a bucket of water for a few hours, they suddenly started moving around. A while later they were running around the house as if nothing had happened. We'd like to keep them as pets but have no idea what to feed them on (were using dog food for now). Does anyone know what they eat or anything about keeping them?</b>
I took loads home and Walter My dog has never had so much fun running after the ones I have been throwing out of the bucket. I will not to have to buy overpriced dog chews for at least a week ( will have to get some more )

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C. Rab, says...
12:34pm Mon 17 Mar 08

Lorraine wrote:
The thing is, they're not all dead. I picked a couple up and took them home. After I put them in a bucket of water for a few hours, they suddenly started moving around. A while later they were running around the house as if nothing had happened. We'd like to keep them as pets but have no idea what to feed them on (were using dog food for now). Does anyone know what they eat or anything about keeping them?
I can help you, because I revived one that I rescued a couple of years ago, it took a fancy to my pet dog Freddie and before you know it a puppy was born, we called it Freddie Star and we haven't stop laughing since.

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Peter Matthews, Henfield says...
12:37pm Mon 17 Mar 08

In response to Lorraine, I have to say that starfish are quite unsuitable pets. They take a lot of looking after and unless you have a good sized garden pond, you should release them back into the wild. Don't forget, if you have a pond, the cost of salting the water can be prohibitive and will probably kill anything else in it.

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Dave, Wivelsfield says...
12:39pm Mon 17 Mar 08

Collect up a few good sized ones (the dead ones are best for this purpose) and let them dry right out. They make a good alternative to a frisbee and if thrown against dralon curtains/furnishings can even be made to stick just like velcro tipped safety darts! Come to think of it doing this with live ones could be entertaining. No, thinking about it a little more, stick to the dead ones please.

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Kickboxer, Worthing says...
12:39pm Mon 17 Mar 08

The real Kickboxer wrote:
Very funny! I wonder if you'll find it so funny when I chew your face off!!
I don't know about that but your idle threats are pretty darn funny.

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Lorraine, Brighton says...
12:43pm Mon 17 Mar 08

Thanks for the really helpful advice, people! Isn't there anyone on here who isn't an idiot and can help me with some ideas?

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Prodigal son, London says...
12:50pm Mon 17 Mar 08

Perhaps they were all on their way to catch a train...to Kings Crustacean!

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mrs.singer, says...
12:53pm Mon 17 Mar 08

If they don't survive, get a few more dead ones. They make fantastic eye-catching buttons, although making the buttonholes is quite a challenge.

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Tim, Brighton says...
1:09pm Mon 17 Mar 08

They eat mussels and other mollusks/shell fish. I'm sure however they love a bit of Pedigree Chum. Who wouldn't?

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RhyzingClevalls, says...
1:30pm Mon 17 Mar 08

Lorraine wrote:
Thanks for the really helpful advice, people! Isn't there anyone on here who isn't an idiot and can help me with some ideas?
I googled Starfish on tinternet and discovered that they are hermaphrodites which means they do it for themselves, they love small fry, but hate fishermen and keep a keen eye open for a man in a boat, because they can’t stand being pulled from the bottom………. of the sea. Sprinkle star dust on the surface of the water and they will love you for it, but beware, they because they will always point you out, no matter where you hide.

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Lorraine, Brighton says...
1:49pm Mon 17 Mar 08

Tim wrote:
They eat mussels and other mollusks/shell fish. I'm sure however they love a bit of Pedigree Chum. Who wouldn't?
Thank you Tim. Do we have to take the mussels out of the shells for them, or can they open them with their beak, like an octopus? Also, we have a jar of cockles at home, would they like these?

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RhyzingClevalls, says...
2:08pm Mon 17 Mar 08

Lorraine wrote:
Tim wrote: They eat mussels and other mollusks/shell fish. I'm sure however they love a bit of Pedigree Chum. Who wouldn't?
Thank you Tim. Do we have to take the mussels out of the shells for them, or can they open them with their beak, like an octopus? Also, we have a jar of cockles at home, would they like these?
They prefer eating live prey and are very fond of nibbling the Great White sharks under belly, this has proved the undoing of Star fish keepers due the the fact that Great Whites are as their name indicates are ....well...Great and find it rather a tight fit when kept in a goldfish bowl, well never mind, its worth a try, but watch your fingers, Star fish don't like being handled.

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Lorraine, Brighton says...
2:18pm Mon 17 Mar 08

Thank goodness Tim is taking this seriously as they are living creatures and we want to look after them.

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RhyzingClevalls, says...
2:31pm Mon 17 Mar 08

They tend to shine at night and stay out late, which can result in a loss of sleep for their owners, but don't forget that you must obtain a dangerous animals licence before you take them out on the lead and remember to keep them muzzled at all times.

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Hugh, says...
2:40pm Mon 17 Mar 08

Lorraine wrote:
Thank goodness Tim is taking this seriously as they are living creatures and we want to look after them.
Well Hello Lorraine, you sound like a very pleasant person, my name is Hugh and perhaps we have got a lot in common and the same sort of interests, because I too like star fish, in fact I think of very little else nowadays, I have even thought of starting a star fish fan club.

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Ivor Winkle, Musselborough says...
2:44pm Mon 17 Mar 08

Maybe they've all been hit over the head with those lengths of wood floating off the Sussex coast. They could have been "planked on!"

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Brad, says...
3:26pm Mon 17 Mar 08

Why are all these stupid people making a joke out of these unfortunate starfish and you Lorraine? Please ignore them all and listen to me only, because I can help you in your quest, all you need to do is keep the starfish in fresh seawater and keep it aerated. As for feeding the starfish, all you need do is fetch fresh sand from the beach every day, because the sand is full of the things that starfish eat and just to be on the safe side you can sprinkle some fish food in the fish tank every now and again, best of luck, Brad.

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Lorraine, Brighton says...
3:57pm Mon 17 Mar 08

As I don't live that near the sea, can I buy a bag of sand from a builders merchants and mix fish food and mussels etc. into it? Do I need to keep them apart in case they fight?

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Lorraine, Brighton says...
4:01pm Mon 17 Mar 08

Sorry Brad, forgot to ask about the water. Can I just dissolve a lot (how much?) of salt into tap water as I'll have a problem getting sea water?

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DW, About here... says...
4:32pm Mon 17 Mar 08

The real Kickboxer wrote:
Very funny! I wonder if you'll find it so funny when I chew your face off!!
You are a plumb. Keyboard warrior, all mouth.

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Brad, says...
5:25pm Mon 17 Mar 08

Lorraine wrote:
As I don't live that near the sea, can I buy a bag of sand from a builders merchants and mix fish food and mussels etc. into it? Do I need to keep them apart in case they fight?
Don't worry about them fighting, they are not aggressive creatures, but please don’t use builders sand, because it is sterile and could harm them, so its back to the beach for you I’m afraid Lorraine if you really want to give your starfish a fighting chance of survival, all the best, Brad.

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Lorraine, Brighton says...
5:40pm Mon 17 Mar 08

Sod that for a game of soldiers! Here boy....fetch!!!

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Lorraine, Brighton says...
6:06pm Mon 17 Mar 08

The comment above was not written by me. I would never do such a thing to a poor defenceless creature. It's appalling that so many think it's funny to....






....oh, sh*t.... the cats have had them!

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Brad, says...
8:01pm Mon 17 Mar 08

That's okay, just throw the cat in the sea and the star fish will be revived in no time, he is very lucky it was the cat who got to him because they have nine, Oh I mean eight lives you now, best of luck, Brad. I'm called Brad because I can fix things.

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Lorraine, Brighton says...
8:33pm Mon 17 Mar 08

Brad wrote:
Lorraine wrote: As I don\'t live that near the sea, can I buy a bag of sand from a builders merchants and mix fish food and mussels etc. into it? Do I need to keep them apart in case they fight?
Don\'t worry about them fighting, they are not aggressive creatures, but please don’t use builders sand, because it is sterile and could harm them, so its back to the beach for you I’m afraid Lorraine if you really want to give your starfish a fighting chance of survival, all the best, Brad.
Thanks for the info Brad, I'll do my best to give them the best I can. They're really cute and actually very affectionate once they start to trust you. Can you train them in any way, because they're ever so hard to keep an eye on - well, these two are anyway.

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