As massive die off of sunflower sea stars devastates North Coast fisheries, international nonprofit lists species as critically endangered

Note: Lana Cohen is a Report For America fellow covering the environment & natural resources for TMV & KZYX. Her position is funded by the Community Foundation of Mendocino, Report for America, & our readers. You can support Lana’s work here or email publisher@mendovoice.com. Contact Cohen at LCohen@mendovoice.com. TMV maintains editorial control.

LITTLE RIVER, 2/25/2021 — If you’re like me, when you picture a sea star, you envision either Patrick from SpongeBob or a brightly colored, maybe pink or orange five-armed creature with thick, bumpy skin that’s about the size of a human hand.