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Disease nearly wipes out Haystack Rock sea stars

Haystack Rock Awareness Program Coordinator Samantha Ferber estimates more than 90 percent of the sea stars in the lower intertidal areas have been killed in the past 15 months.

his May 16, 2014 photo provided by Oregon State University shows an ochre sea star with one leg disintegrating from star wasting syndrome on the Oregon Coast. Oregon State University marine ecologist Kristen Milligan said Wednesday, June 4, that Oregon was largely spared last year as the disease known as sea star wasting syndrome spread in California, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska. But monitoring of tide pools along much of the coast shows the number of sea stars affected has jumped from just 1 percent in April to as high as 50 percent. (AP Photo/Oregon State University, Elizabeth Cherny-Chipman)

ASTORIA, Ore. (AP) - A wasting disease has nearly wiped out sea stars at Haystack Rock, the popular destination for visitors to Cannon Beach.

Haystack Rock Awareness Program Coordinator Samantha Ferber estimates more than 90 percent of the sea stars in the lower intertidal areas have been killed in the past 15 months.

She told The Daily Astorian she hopes the few remaining sea stars will pass on survival adaptations to the next generation.

The wasting disease cause lesions that deform the sea stars and eventually causes them to disintegrate into a white mush.

Background: Starfish disease exploding on Oregon coast

More: OSU video showing sea star wasting syndrome