Shedd Aquarium Joins AZA SAFE Program and Raises Critically Endangered Sea Stars for Conservation

Shedd Aquarium is proud to announce its participation in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) program for critically endangered sunflower sea stars (Pycnopodia helianthoides). As part of the initiative, Shedd will play a key role in raising spawned, larval sunflower sea stars alongside partners. After receiving a first batch from Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Shedd is already working to support the animals’ development through various stages.

Sunflower sea stars have experienced significant declines across much of their range, primarily due to sea star wasting disease that reduced the global population of the species by over 90 percent, but as a keystone species are critical to the kelp forests they inhabit. This SAFE program leverages the skills, resources and facilities of accredited partners to work collaboratively to save this species. As partners have seen initial success with spawning the sea stars, Shedd is leveraging its unique expertise in larval rearing to track their development and learn about the optimal conditions they need to survive.

“When people hear we’re raising sea stars that can grow up to three feet across, the first thought might not be these microscopic animals that take over a month to even grow arms, but watching them grow and change has been incredible,” said Rachel Zak, manager of aquarium sustainability and institutional representative on the sunflower sea star SAFE program. “The amount of information we have been able to gather and contribute to the collective already in such a short time is inspiring.”

In the first few months of caring for these animals behind the scenes, Shedd Aquarium has collected valuable data about diets and feeding amounts, environmental needs and cues to ensure larvae develop and transition to settled sea stars, and population sizes for habitats. To support the recovery of this species, this collaborative effort to raise sunflower sea stars will provide additional information about the biology, life history, environmental requirements and more of this once common and abundant species that little is known about.

“Working with facilities like Oregon Coast Aquarium and University of Washington Friday Harbor Laboratories produced this group of larvae, but this is only a piece of the collaboration that’s happening to save this species. As more and more partners around the globe contribute to our understanding of them, we’re beginning to pave the way toward making a real difference on the coast,” said Ben Morrow, senior aquarist at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium and co-chair on the sunflower sea star SAFE program.

Through this partnership with other accredited zoos and aquariums, academic institutions, state and federal organizations, and conservation-based nonprofits, the collective will develop and implement strategies aiming to save the sunflower sea stars from extinction. Additionally, the SAFE program strives to raise awareness about the plight of sunflower sea stars and inspire action for their conservation. One action people can take is to donate to help fund the Sunflower Sea Star SAFE program.

While this species remains behind the scenes at the aquarium, Shedd has several other sea stars to explore and learn about these fascinating creatures, the challenges they face, and what individuals can do to help protect them. Guests can also discover sea stars up close at the touch habitat in Shedd’s Polar Play Zone to feel their strong skin and examine the hundreds of tiny tube feet that help these extraordinary animals feel, feed and move around their environment.

VISUALS: Find high-resolution photos here: https://personal.filesanywhere.com/fs/v.aspx?v=8e6f64875a6476b7a5ae. Photo Credit: ©Shedd Aquarium