RED ALERT: Crown of thorns starfish outbreak on the reefs of Port Sudan

While performing our research & monitoring work in relation to our Vault Project, in the immediate surroundings of the reefs of Port Sudan, we were horrified by the realization that we are having a COTS outbreak. COTS stands for Crown Of Thorns Starfish. The adult crown-of-thorns is a corallivorous predator that usually preys on reef coral polyps. 

It climbs onto a section of living coral colony using the large number of tube feet, which lie in distinct ambulacral grooves on the oral Surface. It fits closely to the surface of the coral, even the complex surfaces of branching corals. It then extrudes its stomach out through its mouth over the surface to virtually its own diameter. The stomach surface secretes digestive enzymes that allow the starfish to absorb nutrients from the liquefied coral tissue. 

This leaves a white scar of coral skeleton (dead coral) that is rapidly infested with filamentous algae.
An individual COTS can consume up to 1 square Meter of living coral reef per month!

"During the breeding season, which is typically during early to midsummer, the starfish may gather together high on a reef and synchronously release gametes to achieve high levels of egg fertilization."
Unchecked the multiplication factor, will have even more disastrous consequences. This outbreak will also not be contained to just the area we surveyed, they will migrate and expand to other reefs.

When discussing the cause(s) for this outbreak, it is TheOceanRoamer's view that the following factors, can be attributed in order of importance to fueling this outbreak.
1. Overfishing of Triton shellfish and other gastropod natural predators, from the shallows. intended for oriental export (in our case here China). As there is no oversight currently on catches.
2. Climate Change and Land runoffs (waste water and sediments)

Read below how also you can help us, take care of this outbreak