Northwest scientists solve decade-long mystery of sea star wasting disease

A mysterious wasting disease has been decimating sea star populations along the West Coast since 2013. The illness works quickly, causing sea stars to lose limbs and reducing them to a pile of goo in a matter of weeks. Sunflower sea stars have been particularly hard-hit —  roughly 90% of their global population has succumbed to the disease, possibly contributing to the demise of many West Coast kelp forests.

The cause of the wasting disease has stumped scientists for more than a decade. But now, a team of Northwest researchers have identified a bacteria that appears to be behind the illness. 

Alyssa Gehman is a marine disease ecologist at the Hakai Institute, a marine research organization in British Columbia. She joins us with more details on what the breakthrough could mean for sea star recovery.