Sea star wasting syndrome sees mass 'die-off' of starfish along B.C. coast

Researchers along North America's West Coast are tracking what they say are drastically decreasing sea starnumbers. Since 2013, they have been monitoring both the number of sea starslost each year and trying to understand what's causing the decline, without much luck.

"The news is not good, we have lost a lot," Drew Harvell told On the Island's Gregor Craigie.

Harvell, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at Cornell University is currently monitoringpopulations of the speciesin San Juan Islands in Washington State.

• Dying West Coast sea stars inspire U.S. politician's new marine bill

"In the places that we counted, we saw about 90 (to) 95 per cent disappearance at our site." She says the research they have done so far suggests a virus is behind the die-off. However, although pathogen related deathis natural, the magnitude of this epidemic is not.

Experts have 'no idea' what to expect next

The epidemic has been called sea star wasting syndrome by researchers, and United States Congressman Denny Heck introduced a bill asking for federal assistance to help control the die-off.

Harvell said the worst part is the uncertainty over the remaining numbers.

"We have no idea what's going to happen next. I wish we did."

She says the upcoming summer season will be a crucial time period for the current starfish population.

"Last year the big mortality events in our waters were during the warm month so we'll be watching the 10 per cent survivors carefully."