Recent research provides further evidence that the Crown-of-thorns Starfish (COTS) Control Program is one of the most effective tools available to protect coral and support the Reef's resilience. Targeted COTS Control is a proven, effective and scalable management action that can help to mitigate coral loss at scale and support the Reef's resilience under a rapidly changing climate.
At the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, we know that our foundational management actions can make a big difference in the face of escalating climate-driven impacts. One of the most effective tools we have to protect coral and support the Reef's resilience is our Crown-of-thorns Starfish Control Program - and the latest research confirms it.
The recent study by the University of Queensland reaffirms that our COTS Control Program is helping to protect coral, even as the Reef faces more marine heatwaves, cyclones, and floods. The research looked at what might happen to coral by 2040 with and without COTS control. It found that on reefs where starfish were managed, coral cover improved in 85% of cases and about one in three of those reefs saw coral growth of more than 10%.
The findings from this study aligns to the coral protection outcomes of the COTS Control Program. There is now compelling evidence that early detection of outbreaks and timely and sustained culling effort are protecting coral reef habitats across the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. This study suggests that coral protection benefits from the COTS Control Program will be sustained until at least 2040, supporting the health and resilience of reef communities.
The COTS Control Program currently deploys six vessels with trained dive teams who conduct surveillance and manual culling operations across approximately 200 reefs each year. These reefs are prioritised using the best available field data to determine their vulnerability to COTS outbreaks and their ecological importance. Many of the targeted reefs act as critical sources of coral larvae that replenish other reefs across the Marine Park.
This is more than just Reef management - it's reef protection in action. And while COTS control is not a silver bullet, it's a critical part of the solution. Local interventions like this, backed by strong science and delivered at scale, give the Reef its best chance to endure while the world tackles the challenge of climate change.
The COTS control on-water operations is delivered under the Australian governments Reef Protection Package, with their support, and the expertise of our teams and partners, we'll continue to expand and evolve our approach to give coral reefs the best possible future.
Dr David Williamson
Assistant Director, Crown-of-thorns Starfish Control Program
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
