So You Touched a Starfish. Does That Make You a Murderer?
We answer the big questions here at Grimoire Manor.
On a recent trip to Hawaii I found myself at a resort on the beach in Waikoloa on the Big Island. Here, they have a lagoon where one can swim among the fish, sea turtles, and spotted rays of the local ocean and even a female sea lion came to perch for awhile under an artificial waterfall1. Nearby, receding waves form tidal pools and here all manner of cool fish, eels and invertebrates can be found. I admit I like to play with these little critters and, although I mainly try to keep them underwater if handling, I had to admit I could get a better shot of them if I took them out of water for a second or two. This made me curious about something I’d heard: If one takes a sea invertebrate out of the water for even a second or two, is that an instant death sentence?
Like many a naïve individual, I sought answers on the internet. I was quickly struck by how the range and quality of the answers I found were about as variable as one might suspect. There appeared to be some fair outrage over pictures some people had taken where sea animals were kept out of water apparently for long periods of time. As one article put it: “…many don't realise that removing these creatures from the water for even a few minutes could end their lives, leading to holiday-makers being accused of "killing for social media likes".” But is that exactly true?
As with much that happens on social media, particularly when one senses the glee of shaming another, a certain truth (i.e., “one should be reasonably cautious when handling animals and mindful of their health”) can get extended to absurd levels of neuroticism (i.e., “a starfish will vaporize on contact with the air.”) I became suspicious that some of the online vitriol on this issue, if ostensibly well-meaning, might have gotten ahead of more nuanced truths2. When does that ever happen after all?
To get to the straight dope (instead of a bunch of dopes trying to give it to me straight), I turned to my esteemed Stetson colleague, Melissa Gibbs, Professor of Biology and Director of Aquatic and Marine Biology. She explained to me that most tidepool creatures have adapted to survive some degree of air exposure and can survive for hours so long as kept moist. The exact time spent out of water may vary…hermit crabs are particularly robust of course and I’ve seen a few try to hail a cab fairly far from any beach. Similarly, horseshoe crabs can survive up to four days out of water, so long as their gills are kept moist. Starfish and sea urchins may not last nearly that long, of course, but so long as they remain wet, they apparently will not suffocate if taken out of water for a minute or two.
Now, it’s important that this applies to tidepool creatures. If you go scuba diving and haul some poor animal off the bottom from 100 feet deep, these numbers may not necessarily apply. And my comments here shouldn’t be considered license for outright stupidity: keeping an animal out of water for long periods such that it dries out is unnecessary and cruel. Get your quick shot in a few seconds and put it back. Also be mindful that their bodies are small and can be easily harmed by rough handling. Further, particularly for sea stars, their little sucker legs can get damaged if you try to pull them off your hand or arm. It’s better for them to allow them to crawl off in their own time.
Now, it’s also fair to point out that these animals probably don’t enjoy the experience and may think they’re about to be eaten. Yet, I also see some advantage in allowing people with interacting with these animals without shame. Much of our value in the natural world comes from our own experience with it. If people interact with these animals in the wild, they may value clean and healthy oceans more and become more inclined to be concerned about pollution and climate change. Just as I generally support zoos and aquariums for exactly the same reason, I believe the risk to a few animals is worth this greater good.
So, yes, you can play with that sea urchin for a minute or two and get that good shot. Just mind the black ones with the spindly spines. Kids will learn not to touch those in the manner that nature intended.
Trying to pet is not recommended.
Another such example is the common notion that touching a baby mammal will cause it’s mother to abandon it. From what I’ve seen from reputable sources, this is not true, although it’s possible the baby may flee and get lost from its mother.