From an early age, many of us know what a starfish looks like. An iconic seashore favourite shown in brochures, books, photos, illustrations, travel promotions, art and rockpool imagery all across the world. The starfish is a symbol of ‘beach life’ and ‘beach biodiversity’ well known and loved by many. But, starfish are being unknowingly killed by the people who love them through their human activities. 

 

Our Project Starfish is a conservation campaign to stop people touching them on the shore, highlighting the reasons why, through formal and informal education and engagement.

 

Project Starfish will be collaborating with artists and councils and asking marine organisations, members of the public and educators across Wales to make a pledge to stop handling these delicate marine animals and are hoping other EMSEA members will sign up too in a simple united way to aid marine life. 

 

Beach Academy is leading the way by already teaching young people and families to not touch and have embedded the message it into its Rockpool Code, as part of its extensive Rockpool Guardians project funded by the Nature Network’s Heritage Fund through Welsh Government. 

 

Project Starfish hopes to Influence behaviour change through education and is suitable for all age groups and focuses on increasing ocean literacy levels.  

 

Through engaging interactive activities, the project teaches:

 

• How to rescue stranded starfish

• How to tell if a starfish needs rescuing with signs that a starfish may be ill.

• Why starfish should not be touched with reference to biological functions.

• Human impacts on the marine environment and awareness of the harmful souvenir starfish trade.

• How to care, respect and understand life, both above and below water in intertidal areas.