Crown of Thorns: No Problem

This weekend’s collection of about 3,000 Crown of Thorn starfish (Acanthaster planci) by diving clubs in North Sulawesi’ Bunakan Marine Park underscores the different marine environment here in Gorontalo. Miguel’s Diving staff sees this ravenous coral eater once or twice a year. Its rarity here and minimal destructive impact to Gorontalo reefs are probably based on the abundance of predators. We have healthy populations of Helmet and Triton trumpet shells (Cassis cornuta and Charonia tritonis), as well as large triggerfish, such as the Yellowmargin Trigger (Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus), all of which eat Crown of Thorns. Those who enjoy diving in various Sulawesi destinations often comment on the quality of Gorontalo’s hard corals. One reason is surely the lack of this thorny problem.