West Coast STARFISH DIE OFF — Doubled in just a few days — Jellyfish numbers booming

http://enenews.com/seattle-tv-warning-video-of-the-melting-sea-stars-might-be-disturbing-scientists-are-so-concerned-about-rapidly-spreading-die-off-on-west-coast-doubled-in-just-a-few-days-jellyf

Seattle TV: “Warning, video of the (melting) sea stars might be disturbing” — Scientists are “so concerned” about rapidly spreading die off on West Coast — Doubled in just a few days — Jellyfish numbers booming

Published: November 2nd, 2013 at 10:39 pm ET
By ENENews
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Title: West Coast sea stars mysteriously dying off
Source: KING 5 News Seattle
Date: Oct. 31, 2013

Transcript Excerpts

Jean Enersen, King 5 News: The Mysterious die off of West Coast sea stars is spreading.

Dennis Bounds, King 5 News: The so-called melting sea stars were first noticed in Vancouver, then in Seattle, and now in California. King 5 environmental specialist Gary Chittim has more on the rapidly spreading disease, and why scientists are so concerned. And a warning, the video of the sea stars might be disturbing. […]

Heidi Ebel, Seattle Aquarium: There is a huge unknown as to why there is currently a die off happening […]

Gary Chittim, KING 5 News: They’re in quarantine […] At least 3 of the aquarium’s captive sea stars were melting. […] And the scene out there is worse. Aquarium divers found a much more serious situation in the wild population along the Seattle waterfront. […] The estimates of infected sea stars has grown from 30% to 50%-60% in just a few days. And now biologists in California are finding it too.

Dr. Lesanna Lahner, Seattle Aquarium: Something is causing sea stars to be diseased along the coast at different locations. […]

Chittim: Is it a natural disease, is it triggered by environmental factors? […]

KOMO News, Nov. 1, 2013: “We’ve been hearing reports that jellyfish numbers are higher than normal in the Puget Sound [near Seattle],” [Bob Pacunski, a marine fish biologist with Fish and Wildlife] said. “I got a sense of that this year when I was out doing some personal fishing. It’s one of those boom or bust things.”

Watch the KING 5 broadcast here:
http://www.king5.com/news/environment/West-Coast-sea-stars-mysteriously-dying-off--230142711.html

Published: November 2nd, 2013 at 10:39 pm ET
By ENENews