Ministry faulted for delayed response to starfish outbreak on Dongsha

Taipei, Dec. 28 (CNA) The Control Yuan on Sunday faulted the Ministry of the Interior for failing to act promptly after receiving early warnings of a crown-of-thorns starfish outbreak at the Dongsha Atoll National Park, urging corrective measures and long-term follow-up to protect coral reefs.

According to Control Yuan member Tien Chiu-chin (田秋堇), academic teams detected abnormal starfish numbers in the park north of the South China Sea in 2019 and again in 2023 and reported their findings to the ministry.

However, on both occasions the ministry waited about two months before conducting inspections and concluded there was no immediate problem, Tien said in a press release issued by the Control Yuan, Taiwan's highest government supervisory body.

A large-scale outbreak erupted in 2024, causing severe coral damage that has yet to be brought under control, Tien said.

Tien's investigations found that crown-of-thorns starfish reproduce rapidly and are difficult to detect in their early stages, while a single adult can consume large areas of live coral each year, making timely monitoring and response critical.

According to official estimates cited in the investigation, the outbreak has affected about 60 hectares of reef, with around 74,000 starfish at its peak.

Despite intensive removal efforts, about 30,000 are believed to remain, continuing to threaten coral ecosystems, Tien said.

The ombudsperson noted that logistical constraints, including rough seas, the long distance from Taiwan, military access controls and limited vessels and equipment, have hampered removal work, underscoring the need for better planning and resources.

The Control Yuan urged the Executive Yuan to coordinate across agencies to streamline access procedures, strengthen frontline capacity and improve monitoring of high-risk areas.

It also called on the Ministry of the Interior and the Ocean Affairs Council to work with researchers on long-term prevention and control strategies.