Sea stars have existed for roughly 450 to 480 million years, but in the last decade, they have experienced a population collapse that has made them a modern conservation concern. Beginning in 2013, sea star wasting disease spread along the Pacific Coast of North America, causing severe die-offs across multiple species. In many cases, affected sea stars developed lesions, lost limbs, and rapidly deteriorated.
This crisis has raised concern because sea stars serve as key predators that help keep other species in balance. The sunflower sea star is a major example, preying on sea urchins in kelp forest environments. During the outbreak, sunflower sea stars suffered catastrophic declines across much of their range.
When sunflower sea stars disappear, the effects ripple outward. In parts of the West Coast, sea urchin populations have surged, overgrazing kelp, and contributing to “urchin barrens” where kelp habitat is greatly reduced. Kelp forests provide food and shelter for many marine species, so losing kelp can mean losing an entire ecosystem of ocean life.
As concern grew, the sunflower sea star was placed on the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered in 2020. In the United States, federal attention increased as well, including a 2023 proposal to list the species under the Endangered Species Act. Recovery efforts have expanded alongside this attention, including restoration initiatives such as the Pacific Coast Ocean Restoration Initiative (PCOR), which supports research and projects aimed at rebuilding keystone species like the sunflower sea star.
World Sea Star Day builds on existing Sea Star Day observances tied to November 17, and expands them to reach a wider global audience. It was created to raise awareness of sea stars as both beautiful and ecologically critical, and to accelerate science-based conservation and habitat protection through public education and engagement.
