{"id":285063,"date":"2026-02-15T08:36:13","date_gmt":"2026-02-15T08:36:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/285063\/"},"modified":"2026-02-15T08:36:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-15T08:36:13","slug":"incredible-milestone-reached-as-locals-fightback-against-plague-of-invaders-amazing-result","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/285063\/","title":{"rendered":"Incredible milestone reached as locals fightback against plague of invaders: ‘Amazing result’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Eco-activists in Australia’s south have reached an incredible milestone in the country’s ongoing battle to fight back against invasive seastars<\/a> \u2014 removing almost 12,000kg of them in just five years. It’s believed they first arrived here in the 1980s as stowaways on ships<\/a>, but have since absolutely exploded in numbers.<\/p>\n

Estimates suggest there are now as many as 30 million Northern Pacific seastars in Tasmanian waters alone<\/a>.<\/p>\n

They’re a devastating problem because they’re both prolific breeders and hearty underwater warriors that prey on vulnerable native wildlife<\/a> and have few predators of their own.<\/p>\n

Tasmanian man Keith Thomas-Wurth, alongside other dedicated volunteers, has held seastar clean-up missions around the River Derwent \u2014 where they are most widespread \u2014 for the last five years.<\/p>\n

He spoke to Yahoo News days after the Invasive Seastar Clean Up’s fifth anniversary event on Sunday, sharing the incredible success the team had once again.<\/p>\n

While environmentalists acknowledge that complete eradication is unlikely, removal efforts remain crucial to protect endangered species and ease pressure on local wildlife populations.<\/p>\n

Keith is determined to save the spotted handfish<\/a>, which is <\/a>particularly threatened.<\/p>\n

“I have recorded 257,829 seastars removed for a total weight of 11,850 kilograms,” Keith said of the efforts over the last five years.<\/p>\n

Do you have a story about an invasive species? Contact newsroomau@yahoonews.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

On the Invasive Seastar Clean-up’s fifth birthday, volunteers removed 676 individuals, weighing a total of 120 kilos. Source: Benita Vincent<\/p>\n

On the event’s fifth birthday, he said “the river gods were smiling on us” and “even helped” with a little late rain to help wash the gear.<\/p>\n

“[It was an] amazing result,” he told Yahoo.<\/p>\n

“An incredible number of seastars were removed \u2014 5,676 in total for a weight of 120kg.”<\/p>\n

Related: Locals relentlessly fight back as invasive pest plagues Aussie waters<\/a><\/p>\n

Keith thanked the 15 land helpers “sorting and counting” all the seastars, which were collected by a total of 27 snorkellers and 16 scuba divers.<\/p>\n

And, naturally, “there was cake” to celebrate the milestone.<\/p>\n

What makes the Northern Pacific seastar so destructive?<\/p>\n

The Northern Pacific seastar is highly destructive because of its voracious appetite and rapid reproduction.<\/p>\n

It feeds on a wide range of marine life, including mussels, clams, and other shellfish, often stripping entire areas of these key species.<\/p>\n

Its ability to tolerate a broad range of temperatures and salinities allows it to thrive in diverse coastal environments, giving it a competitive edge over native species.<\/p>\n

\"Volunteers<\/p>\n

A permit is required to remove seastars from Tasmanian waterways, due to the fact they can be easily confused with natives. Source: Facebook\/Keith Thomas-Wurth<\/p>\n

Its regenerative abilities make it even more resilient. A single arm can grow into a whole new seastar, allowing populations to rebound quickly even after attempts at control.<\/p>\n

This combination of aggressive feeding, fast reproduction, and resilience means the Northern Pacific seastar can dramatically alter marine ecosystems, displacing native species and destabilising the balance of local habitats.<\/p>\n

In Tasmania, a licence is required to remove them from the state’s waterways so that their native counterparts aren’t impacted.<\/p>\n

Love Australia’s weird and wonderful environment? \ud83d\udc0a\ud83e\udd98\ud83d\ude33 Get our new newsletter<\/a> showcasing the week\u2019s best stories.<\/p>\n

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