No. 96 of 108
September 17, 2025
After a decade of investigation, scientists have discovered the source and cause of a sea star wasting disease that killed off over 90 percent of the population in the first five years of its inception in 2013 from Alaska to Mexico. The bacteria Vibrio pectenicida was found and verified after many twists and false leads. As an environmental disease (… one that occurs due to changing environmental conditions), the sea star wasting disease was “extremely difficult to detect, requiring persistent detective work, intuitive reasoning, and science.” Now that scientists know the cause, they’ll test for natural immunity, potential probiotics, and relocation methods. As sea stars are decimated, sea urchins unnaturally flourish, voraciously consuming kelp beds which, thinned, provide less habitat for other sea life and food sources for coastal peoples. Kelp beds are among the largest absorbers of carbon dioxide, reducing ocean acidification. The beds prevent coastal erosion, and serve as buffers for the impacts of storm surges.
Again and again we are reminded. Yes, all life is connected and therefore all harms connect and all mending and re-membering count. The sea star wasting disease story reminds us that knowing there are connections doesn’t mean we will easily discover the source of harm nor automatically draw the line from the harm to reconnection. It takes unflagging desire, persistence, practice, and a good amount of intuitive detective work. In this moment of historic global chaos, are we the bacteria, the sea star, the sea urchin, the kelp, the carbon dioxide, the storm surge, the scientist, the folx who support the scientist? Yes.