The Northern Pacific Seastar is currently a huge problem in Port Phillip Bay where it was initially introduced from Japan in the 1980s. It is a major predator that feeds aggressively on a wide range of marine species, including shellfish and forces native life to compete for food. It is a large (up to 20cm across), highly mobile predator that has few native enemies and a ferocious appetite with the potential to have a considerable impact on the marine environment, commercial and recreational fisheries.

 
Northern Pacific Seastars have five arms that protrude from a central disc. Typically the body and arms of the seastar are a pale to bright yellow with purple and often upturned tips on its arms, however to see the seastar with mottled purple patterns up its legs are common as well.

 
By removing the seastars from your favourite dive site, you can help to make the area more habitable for our native marine life and more enjoyable for people who participate in water sports, divers, fishermen, swimmers & you!

This sea star has no stinging ablility, however when collecting these critters the use of gloves is strongly recommended.  Also check with local guidelines when disposing of them, some councils do not permit dumping of them in public rubbish bins.