About 450,000 kilograms of starfish have died in Qingdao Jiaozhou Bay, and the affected area is about 100,000 mu, and the economic loss is 100 million yuan.

Original title: Qingdao Jiaozhou Bay has killed around 450,000 kilograms of starfish, and the affected area is around 100,000 mu. Economic loss of 100 million yuan. Source: CCTV News Client

Recently, starfish flooded into the waters of Qingdao Jiaozhou Bay, feeding a large number of bottom-strewn oyster and clam shells, causing huge economic losses to fishermen and raising social concern. CCTV reporters from the main station learned from the Qingdao Ocean Development Bureau that after the investigation, the flood of starfish was mainly concentrated in the marine area of ​​oysters and clams in the marine area of ​​Jiaozhou Bay. . The approximate statistical density averaged 50 per cubic meter, and the affected area was around 100,000 mu. It is expected to cause an economic loss of 100 million yuan. So far, local fishermen have killed around 450,000 starfish cats through manual harvesting and other methods.

△ Qingdao Hongdao fishing port, the buyer is loading the acquired starfish

It is understood that the starfish that flood Jiaozhou Bay this time are mainly the Starfish class sea thorn, which is a kind of cold water common along the Yellow Sea coast in my country. The reproduction will take place in January of the following year. According to experts, starfish are voracious predators and have a great impact on the composition of the benthic community in the range, they are an ecological predator and a major predator of the marine aquaculture industry.

According to expert analysis, there are three main reasons for the formation of the starfish disaster in Jiaozhou Bay.One is the changes in the marine ecological environment.Changes of various hydrological factors such as nutrients, pH, and water temperature in the water quality of Jiaozhou Bay provide suitable natural conditions for the growth and reproduction of starfish. Starfish are highly reproductive and have a very low survival rate. However, studies have shown that if minor changes in the marine ecosystem cause the survival rate of starfish larvae to increase, the starfish will easily increase in large numbers and move from the depths of the sea. to the shallow sea when there are few natural enemies, resulting in the rapid spread of starfish in the shellfish nursery area.The second is the eating habits of starfish.Starfish have a habit of gathering in food-rich areas and mainly feed on bivalves, sea urchins, oysters, and sea anemones. Jiaozhou Bay is a mollusk farming area. Oysters, clams, etc. from the bottom provide sufficient food for starfish and provide an environmental base for mass reproduction of starfish. Some scientific researchers have conducted surveys in mollusc farming areas. There are often many starfish in the breeding areas, but they are particularly few outside the breeding areas. Almost all of the starfish disasters that occurred in 2007 and this year occurred in the spawning zone.The third is the decrease in the number of natural enemies.Due to the influence of climate and other factors, the number of fish that feed on starfish eggs and larvae in coastal waters has drastically decreased, allowing the biomass of starfish to increase.

Today, the most direct and effective way to solve the problem of starfish increases is to fish. At present, the Qingdao Ocean Development Bureau has dispatched experts to guide local fishermen in various forms of starfish fishing.

△ Qingdao Hongdao Fishing Port Pier, Fishermen Move Rescued Starfish Ashore

At the same time, to enhance the fishing effect of starfish, in combination with the demands of fishermen and expert advice, the Qingdao Municipal Ocean Development Bureau has informed the province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Shandong that allows fishermen to collect starfish at a designated location. way in specific marine areas during starfish predator period .: Use artificial diving to catch and kill. If necessary, fishermen can place large nets “land cage nets” on the seabed in the aquaculture area to catch or use trawling in the aquaculture area. The use of nets is limited to large mesh “cage nets” or trawl nets, and the area is limited to the Jiaozhou Bay Marine Aquaculture Zone. Time is limited to March 15 to the end of April. The effect of cleaning the starfish will be determined at the later stage.

In order to ensure the standardized use of earth cage nets in specified periods, large “earth cage nets” will be purchased urgently from other provinces. The Qingdao Municipal Ocean and Fisheries Administrative Law Enforcement Detachment and the jurisdiction’s fisheries department will make special nets such as land cages and trawls during starfish disasters. The use of the equipment is supervised throughout the process, and actions that violate the regulations and damage the fishery resources in the name of the elimination of the starfish will be resolutely punished in accordance with the relevant regulations. Once the disaster is over, the jurisdiction’s fisheries department will organize the proper disposal of the nets used.

In the next step, the Qingdao Ocean Development Bureau will continue to monitor the biomass of starfish in the aquaculture area and surrounding areas, scientifically assess the impact of starfish, study and promote feasibility measures for the removal of starfish and establish a long-term mechanism for Scientific Starfish Disaster Elimination. (Headquarters CCTV reporter, Wang Wei)

(Edit Wang Fa)