In the Cook Islands, divers armed with wooden poles are engaged in a primitive battle to protect coral reefs from the crown-of-thorns starfish, a crucial fight for the ecosystems increasingly threatened by climate change.
These rudimentary tools are the primary weapon for the Earth, Sky, and Sea Knowledge Society (in the Māori language) in their struggle against the crown-of-thorns starfish, which preys on coral and devours tropical reefs.
According to marine biologist Tiiina Rongo, the Cook Islands, located in the southern Pacific, have been facing a persistent invasion for several years.
A single adult crown-of-thorns starfish can consume over 10 square meters of coral annually. This spiny sea creature, named for its hundreds of tiny, toxic spines, can grow larger than a car tire.
As reported by the Australian Institute of Marine Science, this species reproduces at “epidemic rates,” making it one of the leading causes of coral reef decline. Researchers suspect that a combination of factors, including agricultural runoff and fluctuations in natural predator populations, contributes to these outbreaks.