CROWN OF THORNS STARFISH: Monster From the Shallows

The mystery of one of the most efficient eating and breeding machines in nature. This starfish eats only one thing - coral. It has already reached uncontrollable numbers over a large part of the Great Barrier Reef. Also under impact from global warming and coral bleaching, this diverse and delicate reef ecosystem is under extreme pressure.

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The mystery of one of the most efficient eating and breeding machines in nature. This starfish eats only one thing - coral. It has already reached uncontrollable numbers over a large part of the Great Barrier Reef. Also under impact from global warming and coral bleaching, this diverse and delicate reef ecosystem is under extreme pressure.

SWAT teams of divers try to keep ahead of the plague through poisoning, but the numbers are too great.

It's now a race against time. Have the scientists finally found the reason for this freakish outbreak? What can be done? Without a solution, the largest reef structure on earth could soon be simply reduced to rubble.

Produced by: Gulliver Media, David Hannan.
Cinematography: David Hannan. Shot in High Definition

2005

60 minutes

Awards:
Silver at the Roshd (Educational) Film Festival, Iran. 2005
Special Jury Award for Research and Script, Roshd Film Festival, Iran, 2005
First Prize (National Parks Award) 19th Sondrio Film Festival, Italy, 2005 Official Selection, San Francisco Ocean Film Festival.
Honourable Mention, Underwater Photography, International Wildlife Film Festival, USA , 2005
Honourable Mention for Scientific Content, International Wildlife Film Festival, USA , 2005
Bronze Medal for Reportages on Environmental Topics, Naturale Film Festival, Germany, 2005:
First Prize at the International Green Film Festival, Iran