Major starfish outbreak detected

Coral threat: A diver carrying a bucketful of crown-of-thorns starfish from the bottom of the sea; (below) the crown-of-thorns starfish waiting to be buried. — Photo courtesy of Reef Check Malaysia

KOTA KINABALU: A concerted clean-up is underway in Darvel Bay, off Sabah’s east coast in Lahad Datu district, after a major outbreak of crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) was detected.

Marine conservationists and government agencies are hard at work containing hundreds of those coral predators, which are threatening to destroy the coral reefs in the area.