Uploaded June 2023 | Updated September 2026, 13 minutes ago
Crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) are a significant threat to our Great Barrier Reef. While they’re a native species, they eat large quantities of corals and can cause irreparable damage to our Reef if left unchecked. Nocturnal by nature, they’re difficult to detect, so the COTS Control Innovation Program is developing new tools and technology to help find and outsmart these coral predators.
In a huge collaborative effort that brought together 24 scientists, reef managers, and COTS Control crews from seven organisations, we spent 11 days at sea testing a range of new detection methods. These tools are being designed to help hunt down COTS, track their spread and guide control teams to COTS hotspots.
Crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) are a significant threat to our Great Barrier Reef. While they’re a native species, they eat large quantities of corals and can cause irreparable damage to our Reef if left unchecked. Nocturnal by nature, they’re difficult to detect, so the COTS Control Innovation Program is developing new tools and technology to help find and outsmart these coral predators.
In a huge collaborative effort that brought together 24 scientists, reef managers, and COTS Control crews from seven organisations, we spent 11 days at sea testing a range of new detection methods. These tools are being designed to help hunt down COTS, track their spread and guide control teams to COTS hotspots.
