"Rare Discovery by Diver Sparks Concerns of Outbreak on Aussie Tourist Island"
A rare sighting of a crown-of-thorns starfish, a predator that poses a threat to coral reefs, has been made by a diver off the coast of Magnetic Island in Australia. Marine scientist Paul Groves, who discovered the starfish, said it was the first time he had seen one in 18 years. The presence of the starfish closer to shore is unusual, and locals are monitoring the situation for any potential outbreak. The starfish can decimate coral tissue faster than it can grow, and efforts to control outbreaks have limitations due to climate change and favorable conditions for their expansion.