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24/06/2006: "Acanthaster planci ........ crown of thorns starfish"

When the Belgian Expedition reached Townsville, we began seeing the effects of Ancanthaster planci the Crown of Thorns starfish on live coral reefs. The starfish were centered north from here to Green Island, off Cairns in plague proportions on some reefs.

Otter Reef was especially infested and this is where I made the underwater images that would become the biggest single selling topic in our library for several years.

Everybody’s magazine broke the news in the popular press with my pictures and with text by Mike Perry. This was quickly followed by LIFE Australia with a major feature and cover. All other newspapers and magazines followed. It was a story that could not be ignored, and one the northern state government hated.

The debate escalated in the following years as documentary film projects by Robert Raymond and the ABC’s Four Corners all did the own versions while the Queensland government (the Nationals under Joh Bjelke-Petersen) sought all advice available that was contrary to what scientists and especially Dr Robert Endean were stating to the media.

Information sought that would prevent the spending of millions of dollars on a survey and eradication program like the survey which was to happen at Guam (U.S.A.) two years later, (and detailed elsewhere in ARCHIVES).

(top)Valerie Taylor gets close to a starfish near Otter Reef, while Ron Taylor (below) inspects others with predators in an aquarium aboard De Moor established by guest scientists.