Reef Killers

Al Jazeera

24 July 2013

With the venomous Crown of Thorns starfish decimating Australia's Barrier Reef, hope comes from a surprising source.

Australia's iconic Great Barrier Reef has lost half its coral since 1985 and around 40 percent of this is believed to be down to the venomous Crown of Thorns starfish.

Scientists believe that a combination of global warming and nitrogen-based fertilisers from on-shore agriculture may have created the perfect conditions for the coral munching starfish, which are breeding in massive numbers. Read more