Development Plan
Restoring the sunflower star is the single most important step we can take to give California’s vanishing kelp forests a chance to recover. Our plan outlines how we intend to develop as an organization over time, and the resources we will need to accomplish this development. We are currently transitioning from phase II to phase III of our plan and have the necessary permits and cooperative agreements to proceed as we refine our aquaculture techniques, conduct research, and lead reintroduction trials. Additional permits and resources will be necessary as we move to the next stages of our plan.
Phase I: Protocol Refinement
Phase I allowed SSL to test its equipment and methodologies and took place from December 2021-March 2024. SSL started by growing local echinoderms that are abundant, primarily sand dollars (left), urchins, and locally-abundant sea stars (Patiria miniata and Pisaster giganteus). Once the methods for growing a few of these species were successfully and consistently replicated, SSL started growing sunflower sea stars, Pycnopodia helianthoides.
Photo courtesy of Abbey Dias
Phase II: Small Scale Sunflower Star Cultivation and applied research
Phase II is currently ongoing, as hundreds of juvenile sea stars, including 95 sunflower stars over 1.5 years old, are currently being raised at our aquaculture facility. During this phase, we are leading conservation-focused field work and studies into areas that will aid in the recovery of this species, including groundbreaking eDNA monitoring, larval cryopreservation, and hatchery efficiency research.
Juvenile sunflower star being grown at Sunflower Star Laboratory. Photo courtesy of Kenan Chan
Phase III of our development plan will supercharge sunflower star recovery efforts by providing the animals needed to restore this species at scale, and answering key outplanting research questions during reintroduction trials in California waters. Phase III may begin concurrent to the applied research in Phase II when increased growout capacity is achieved.
Phase III: Large Scale Sunflower Star Cultivation and Outplanting Research
Sunflower Stars at Friday Harbor Laboratory, University of Washington
Phase IV: Full Scale Cultivation and Reintroduction
Phase IV will utilize the expanded population of stars under human care and insights into the most effective reintroduction strategies gained in phase III to effectively outplant sunflower stars at scale. Phase IV will be an ongoing process that will continue until P. helianthoides populations have recovered and are stable. Phase IV will include a monitoring program to evaluate the success of the reintroductions and to track P. helianthoides populations.
Adult sunflower star in an Alaskan rocky reef environment. Photo courtesy of Patrick Webster.