05/29/2026
Even better news: sea stars are a keystone species.
That means their existence has a huge impact on their ecosystem. Without them present, the sea urchin population has increased an estimated amount of 10,000%.
As a result, 95% of kelp forests have disappeared and been transformed into “urchin barrens” where urchins dominate the sea floor (urchins eat the kelp).
With the comeback of sea stars (and sea otters!), they’re eating the urchins and bringing back kelp which absorb carbon dioxide, dampen wave energy, and create local refuges.
Please don’t touch sea stars — this is how the sea star wasting disease spreads.
If you’re interested in tide pooling, check out our blog full of tips.
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Hey, we’re Meghann and Zach — we live in the Pacific Northwest, and you’ll find us exploring hidden gems, underrated travel destinations, and hiking or backpacking between trips.
We’re all about making adventure more attainable so give us a follow if you want daily inspiration.
