Legislature(2013 - 2014)CAPITOL 120
04/15/2014 10:00 AM House FISHERIES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentation: Alaska Deep Ocean Science Institute - Sea Star Wasting Syndrome (sswd) | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES
April 15, 2014
10:05 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Paul Seaton, Chair
Representative Eric Feige
Representative Lynn Gattis
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Bob Herron
Representative Craig Johnson
Representative Kurt Olson
Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATION: ALASKA DEEP OCEAN SCIENCE INSTITUTE - SEA STAR
WASTING SYNDROME (SSWD)
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
MICHELLE RIDGWAY, Marine Ecologist
Alaska Deep Ocean Science Institute
Auke Bay, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided a presentation on sea star wasting
syndrome (SSWD).
ACTION NARRATIVE
10:05:49 AM
CHAIR PAUL SEATON called the House Special Committee on
Fisheries meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. Representatives
Gattis, Feige, and Seaton were present at the call to order.
^PRESENTATION: Alaska Deep Ocean Science Institute - Sea Star
Wasting Syndrome (SSWD)
PRESENTATION: Alaska Deep Ocean Science Institute - Sea Star
Wasting Syndrome (SSWD)
10:06:02 AM
CHAIR SEATON announced that the only order of business would be
a presentation from the Alaska Deep Ocean Science Institute
regarding sea star wasting syndrome (SSWD).
10:06:33 AM
MICHELLE RIDGWAY, Marine Ecologist, Alaska Deep Ocean Science
Institute, said she has been working with the Sitka National
Historical Park undertaking marine research projects this spring
in Sitka. The park is located just south of Sitka and is often
known as Totem Park, and it consists of 40 acres of tidelands
and submerged waters. While conducting herring research, she
also conducted sea star surveys. She offered to provide
findings of those surveys. She related that sea star wasting
syndrome (SSWD) has had a widespread outbreak on the Pacific
Coast of North America in the past 8-12 months. She described
the degree of infection and effects of it. Primarily, the
disease is easily identified through lesions that appear as a
precursor to the wasting away and death of the sea star. These
lesions develop in the surface skin, or ectoderm, and decay
spreads to the tissue which eventually leads to death. She
turned to her PowerPoint and detailed Category 1 and Category 2
symptoms [slide 1]. Small lesions on the common sea stars may
have initiated with a minor or severe scrape or crab bite [or
pinch]. Over time, Category 3 and Category 4 disease can result
in a progressive deterioration of loss of limbs or rays,
weakening of the entire body, and finally death of the organism
[slide 2].
10:09:45 AM
MS. RIDGWAY provided a color-coded map illustrating the
distribution of occurrence of the sea star wasting disease since
2013, and she remarked on several specific areas and reports
that have been sent in regarding this syndrome [slide 3]. One
occurrence happened in Anchorage when an aquarium collected sea
stars in Seward or Whittier for a touch tank. As of two weeks
ago, three occurrences have happened in Alaska, one observation
at Point Louisa in Juneau and a report from Kayak Island, which
could have been misreported. Reports must be verified by field
notes or photographs [slide 4]. She recently spent a month in
Sitka, along with the National Park Service staff, to survey sea
stars at the beach during the herring spawning season. Some sea
stars were healthy; others were not so healthy. This disease
has been seen before on the Pacific Coast during times of warmer
water, which is a possible link; however, this outbreak seems
different and is much worse.
10:12:17 AM
MS. RIDGWAY said Dr. Drew Harvell, professor of ecology and
evolutionary biology, Cornell University, has noted that SSWD
has become more widespread. In addition, he has noted the speed
in mortality rate.
MS. RIDGWAY said causes of sea star wasting syndrome (SSWD) are
not fully known although bacteria is present and warmer water
could contribute to it. However, in 2013 Cornell also
identified a virus unique to sickened sea stars. She noted
there has been no link found to indicate that Fukushima is
influencing SSWD.
10:14:02 AM
MS. RIDGWAY said reconnaissance was conducted in Sitka over
several tides from March 12, 2014 through April 8, 2014, first
at Sitka National Historical Park and then at John Browns Beach,
which is where she first observed very distressed sea stars of
several species (near the Sitka airport). She also looked at
the living collection at the Sitka Sound Science Center Aquarium
[slides 7-8]. She pointed out the ochre sea star, Pisaster
ochraceus, which is probably the most affected species
throughout the Pacific coast that has been documented. She
showed images of diseased sea stars with lesions.
10:15:56 AM
MS. RIDGWAY conjectured on the cause of lesions and continued
with illustrations of healthy versus non-healthy sea star
species, including the 21-legged sea star commonly known as the
giant sunflower, Pycnopodia helianchoides [slides 11-12]. The
Henricia leviuscula or blood star, a hand size organism, thus
far has had a low rate of infection. An abundant aggressive
predator that has been highly distressed is the Evasterias
troschelli, a large sea star that has had a huge effect and
important role on the inner tidal ecosystem [slides 14-15].
10:19:31 AM
MS. RIDGWAY was alarmed when last week in Sitka she observed a
parasite that was very large attached to the sea star [slide
15]. She noted photographs taken at the Sitka Sound Science
Center sea star tanks with distressed and dying organisms. She
continued with pictures and a summary of specimens taken in
Sitka including the Evasterias troschelli, the Mediaster
aequalis vermillion star, the Leptasterias epichlora six-rayed
sea star, and the Solaster dawsonii sun star [slides 16-20].
10:22:16 AM
MS. RIDGWAY explained the importance of sea stars as an icon for
intertidal areas, acting as a keystone species to indicate the
health of a beach. These sea stars are highly mobile predators,
consuming bivalves, snails, crabs, and many other species. The
disappearance of sea stars from a beach can cause a surge of
other species and an imbalance in the ecosystem [slide 21].
10:24:04 AM
MS. RIDGWAY noted the warming that the Pacific Ocean is
experiencing and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) information that is being reported on
changing ocean temperatures associated with El Nino [slide 22].
She indicated that as water temperatures increase, metabolic
demands increase in herring roe, and the implications could
affect fish hatching out at this time. She said NOAA has been
monitoring and tracking temperatures in Sitka Sound, and she
reported on the monitoring and steps for the studies that are
underway or planned, which include data from a NOAA buoy and
satellite and fish hatcheries in the area. She said the SSWD
has an active research collaboration network; observations on
sea stars and ecosystems effects are being made and maps are
being updated. She said the efforts are active and informative
and are being managed by the National Park Service [slide 24].
Ongoing monitoring efforts will be made in Sitka, and she has
conferred with the chief Alaska Department of Fish & Game
scientist, and the department will be conducting dive research
for geoduck and surveying herring spawn and will watch for any
signs of sea star wasting in subtidal areas. She reported that
tissue samples have been preserved and shipped to pathology labs
and she anticipated results in the next few weeks.
10:26:52 AM
MS. RIDGWAY asked the rhetorical question, "Should Alaska do
more?" and offered several points to consider, including
informing people on what to expect, especially for young
students, and what people can do if they observe diseased or
sick sea stars. She suggested people could photograph and
record any information. She discouraged people from collecting
sea stars without following proper protocol for potentially
pathogenic specimens. She further suggested state participation
in research on the effects if it appears the sea star wasting is
going to be more widespread.
10:27:59 AM
CHAIR SEATON noted that whatever is affecting the sea stars
could have widespread implications in marine ecology and he
thanked Ms. Ridgway for the presentation.
10:28:20 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Fisheries meeting was adjourned at 10:28
a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SeaStars_Ridgway_HouseFisheries.pdf |
HFSH 4/15/2014 10:00:00 AM |
Sea Star |