What We Do
Sunflower Star Laboratory is a Monterey-based
non-profit committed to researching and developing reliable and scalable aquaculture methods for sunflower star (Pycnopodia helianthoides) conservation and reintroduction.
Our Mission
The sea star wasting syndrome that began in 2013 has devastated sunflower star populations off the West Coast of North America.
The mission of the Sunflower Star Laboratory is to protect the diversity of coastal ecosystems by supporting research and developing scalable aquaculture methods to restore sunflower stars to their historic range in California.
We are coordinating with the Pycnopodia Recovery Work Group, a group of scientists formed to develop recovery management strategies, to achieve this mission in support of sunflower star recovery in areas where sunflower stars are functionally extinct.
Our board is composed of an experienced, interdisciplinary group of researchers, marine conservation professionals, project managers and environmental educators passionate about the restoration of sunflower stars.
Restoring a Keystone Species
Sunflower stars are key kelp forest predators that help protect algae from urchin overgrazing. Their population collapse in California is a prominent factor in the conversion of vibrant kelp forest ecosystems into urchin barrens. Restoring the sunflower star is a vital pillar in the fight to rehabilitate California kelp forest and protect their inhabitants.
“Earth as an ecosystem stands out in the all of the universe. There's no place that we know about that can support life as we know it, not even our sister planet, Mars, where we might set up housekeeping someday, but at great effort and trouble we have to recreate the things we take for granted here.”
— Sylvia Earle