Mystery disease might have hit Puget Sound starfish

An environmental advocate and photographer has made a troubling discovery on the shores of West Seattle that could be linked to a mysterious disease ravaging starfish along the entire West Coast.

“Diver Laura” James posted a video documenting the death of more than 100 dead sea stars in the Brace Point area near Fauntleroy after stumbling upon them over the weekend.

“I don’t know what’s going on there but hopefully we can bring some public awareness to the problem and maybe people can look on their own own beaches and alert the proper authorities,” she says.

It’s not known if they are tied to “sea star wasting disease.” The widespread disease is being blamed for an epidemic along the coast from Alaska to Southern California.

The disease causes white lesions to develop along the arms of star fish, which eventually disintegrate.

James says she’s seen even more diseased starfish on recent dives in the Sound.

“And those are showing the classic descriptions where they just melt into a blob of goo and their arms are falling off,” she says. “it’s definitely bothersome.

The Seattle Aquarium has quarantined its sea star population as a precaution. Three sea stars have already died from the disease.

The Vancouver Aquarium has been tracking incidents of the disease in Canada as well.