Endangered sunflower sea stars return to Santa Barbara Sea Center in conservation effort

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — One of California's most important marine predators is making a return to Santa Barbara, giving visitors a rare opportunity to see a species scientists hope will one day recover in the wild.

The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center has welcomed endangered sunflower sea stars as part of an effort to educate the public about the species' role in maintaining healthy coastal ecosystems.

Known for their striking appearance, sunflower sea stars can have between 16 and 24 arms, making them one of the largest sea star species in the world.

"They're very funny creatures," said Maxwell Rudelic, senior aquarist at the Sea Center. "You can see the difference between the sea stars we have downstairs and these stars. They average between 16 and 24 arms."

While they may appear slow and gentle, sunflower sea stars are among the ocean's most effective predators. They feed on sea urchins, mussels, clams and other animals living on the seafloor, helping keep marine ecosystems in balance.

"They play a key role within the ecosystem because they help not just clean, but they also help keep population numbers down," Rudelic said.

Scientists say the species suffered a dramatic decline after sea star wasting disease spread along the West Coast more than a decade ago, wiping out much of the population.

Their disappearance has had ripple effects throughout California's coastal waters. Without sunflower sea stars to prey on them, sea urchin populations can grow unchecked, consuming kelp forests that provide food and shelter for fish, invertebrates and other marine life.

Sea Center staff hope the exhibit helps visitors understand how even lesser-known marine animals can have an outsized impact on ocean health.

"It's not always super common for kids to learn about the small, kind of creepy-crawly stuff that lives in the ocean that actually has a really important role in keeping our kelp forests and our coastal environments really healthy," said Ally Aplin, programs manager for the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Sea Center.

Visitors have already begun flocking to the exhibit, with many seeing a sunflower sea star for the first time.

"People are coming here. They've never seen these animals before," said Dylan Otte, the Sea Center's naturalist and volunteer manager. "It's surprising for some. It's exciting for some. For some, it even brings back memories of seeing them out diving in the wild when they were once in higher numbers in our waters."

For Aplin, the exhibit is about more than showcasing a rare marine animal.

"Over a decade, we haven't seen them locally," she said. "This is now a chance for the community to connect to this animal, become inspired by this animal and, hopefully someday, be able to see them in the wild."

The endangered sunflower sea stars are now on display at the Sea Center, where visitors can learn about the ongoing effort to protect the species and the important role it plays in California's kelp forest ecosystem.