The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) has developed and deployed a single-injection bile salt solution that kills crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) within 24 hours. COTS outbreaks are one of the primary causes of coral loss on the Great Barrier Reef, with a single starfish consuming up to 10 square meters of coral per year. The injection technique, using modified veterinary syringes, allows divers to treat hundreds of starfish per dive, with large-scale control programs coordinated across priority reef sites.
Previous COTS control methods required multiple injections of different chemicals, took days to work, and risked damaging surrounding coral. The single-injection bile salt technique is faster, cheaper, and more targeted. AIMS coordinates boat-based control programs that have treated millions of starfish since deployment, demonstrating measurable coral recovery in treated areas.
While COTS biocontrol addresses a symptom rather than the underlying cause (nutrient runoff from agricultural land promotes COTS larval survival), it buys time for reef recovery during the critical period when climate adaptation interventions (heat-tolerant coral breeding, cloud brightening) are being scaled. The technology illustrates Australia's pragmatic approach to reef management — addressing immediate threats with proven interventions while investing in longer-term solutions.