Volunteers have hauled more than 3,100 invasive seastars from the waters off Bellerive Yacht Club over the weekend, in one of the most productive clean-ups yet for the Derwent Estuary.
A team of 19 scuba divers and six snorkellers collected 3,103 Northern Pacific Seastars during the effort on Sunday, which was co-sponsored by Go Dive.
An 11-member land crew sorted, counted and processed the haul, ferrying catch bags from divers along the jetties before dumping the seastars into wheelbarrows.
The Northern Pacific Seastar is a major marine pest in Tasmania, where it threatens native species by feeding on shellfish and other marine life.
The invasive species has established populations across the estuary, prompting ongoing community-led efforts to reduce its impact.
The haul topped 450 kilograms, with the average seastar weighing 145 grams – well above the usual average of under 100 grams.
Only one other clean-up has exceeded the 450-kilogram mark.
The event was the eighth clean-up held at Bellerive Yacht Club by Invasive Seastar Clean Up, Tasmania, a volunteer group that carries out regular Northern Pacific Seastar collections across the Derwent Estuary.
Since late 2020, the group has held more than 50 clean-ups, removing around 180,000 seastars weighing more than 9,000 kilograms in total.
The group has received funding through the Community Grant Program to replace equipment including catch bags, gloves, tubs, first aid kits and weight belts.
Organisers said they would “definitely be back again” at Bellerive Yacht Club for future efforts.
