During your beach vacation you are likely to see starfish, especially if you are on the rocky shores of the Mediterranean. Easy to recognize thanks to their unmistakable shape, it is always tempting to pick them up and take them from their habitat. An illegal practice that puts their survival at risk. Let’s find out why and how to behave when you encounter a starfish.
Where can starfish be found?
Starfish are specimens belonging to the Asteroidea family, invertebrates that prefer clean seabeds and the Mediterranean is home to 11 different species compared to about 2,000 spread around the world. . The most common is the red starfish (Echinaster Sepositus) which can live up to 200 meters deep. In general, Mediterranean species prefer sandy and rocky soils. Among the Italian locations where it is easier to find them is in Sardinia, especially in the island of Asinara and in the Stintino area. Not only that, it is also possible to find starfish on the island of Giglio, in Civitavecchia and along the Strait of Messina.
Catching or taking starfish is prohibited
Starfish are very important to the ecosystem where they are found because they help to maintain their balance and because of this their capture is prohibited. If you take them you can also incur penalties for animal abuse which include fines from 5,000 to 30,000 euros and up to 18 months in prison.
Although touching them is not possible, you can admire them while diving, being careful not to disturb them or the other organisms around them.
Starfish are very dangerous animals
Starfish are organisms that cannot live in water. Considered an echinoderm like sea urchins, they are very dangerous.
The animal is covered with “channels” that can be seen throughout its body and when it comes out of the water they start to retain it, creating air bubbles and blocking the channels themselves. This can lead to the death of the starfish even after a few days.
Although they are able to restore, once touched and moved from their habitat the probability that they will die when returned to the sea is very high. The starfish, in fact, is covered with a substance that allows it to breathe, but this can be changed if it comes into contact with the hands and in many cases leads to dehydration and overheating.
If a starfish is found, it should only be studied and never touched, while if it is found near the coast or in an area of ​​passage and dangerous for its survival, with the help of a net it should be moved to a calmer place, taking care to always put it in water.