KOTA KINABALU: An infestation of the coral eating crown-of-thorns starfish in Sabah’s east coast Semporna district appears to have abated but the diving community there remains worried.

Divemaster Pius Angelo Mak said the number crown-of-thorns starfish scooped up by him and other volunteers from the Buli Patuid reef near Pulau Bum Bum had declined over the past week.

“Previously, we were collecting more than 200 every hour but it is now about just over 100 of these creatures,” he said.

However, he pointed out that the diving community was concerned that there could be another outbreak. Pius said Sabah Fisheries Department officials had pledged to assist in removing the crown-of-thorns starfish by deploying divers to the reef.

The crown-ofthorns starfish collected by divers.

He said since The Star reported about the crown-of-thorn starfish infestation late November, various experts had contacted him to give advices about what could be done.

“One of the most important things we learnt was that we should not put them in distress by spearing them as this would cause them to spurt their eggs,” Pius said.

“Now, we carefully remove them and soak them in vinegar to kill them before disposing of them in deeper water,” he added. Pius said the infestation spurred divers into action as Buli Patuid was one of the most scenic reefs in Semporna.

Flashback of an article on starfish invasion in The Star on Nov 30.

“I have never seen so many crown-of-thorns starfish in one reef in the 20 years of diving in Semporna,” he said, adding that the creature consumed hard corals such as those of the acropora and goniopora species.

Crown-of-thorns outbreaks have been reported previously in other Sabah conservation areas including the Tunku Abdul Marine Park near Kota Kinabalu as well as Turtle Islands Park off Sandakan.