User:Cbm018/Sunflower sea star

Conservation
After 2013, the Sunflower Sea Star population has been in a rapid decline due to diseases and change in climate that have been plaguing the waters. Efforts have been made to spread awareness to this issue. One major first step was listing the Sunflower Sea Star on the IUCN page. The IUCN page displays the most endangered species, which further raises concern and actions of conservation. The Nature Conservancy, and partners institutions, along with the University of Washington are working together to start the first captive breeding of Sunflower Sea Stars which will hopefully aid in increasing the population. Captive breeding efforts including the seasonal reproduction of the Sea Stars, the development of their larval, and undertake feeding and growing experiments of juveniles Sea Stars. The Center for Biological Diversity recently sent out a petition that demands the Sunflower Sea Stars to be covered under the Endangered Species Act. Saving this species can result in reviving the seas by maintaining a bearable population of sea urchins in the waters which leads to the restoration of kelp.