18 Nov 2013

Starfish pest cull in American Samoa waters after reef damage

6:47 am on 18 November 2013

Over 2000 crown of thorn starfish have been killed in American Samoan waters in an effort to halt the damage caused by the marine pest.

The Crown of thorn starfish poses a threat to coral reefs because it preys on coral tissue.

The National Park of American Samoa brought in nine scuba divers to remove the crown of thorn in Fagasa waters.

The crown of thorns eradication is a joint effort by the National Park, Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources and National Marine Sanctuary of Amerian Samoa.

The Marine Ecologist for the National Park, Dr Tim Clark, says there's alarm at the amount of damage caused by the marine pest.