SAN JUAN ISLANDS — The released sunflower sea stars were three years old and slightly larger than a human adult's outstretched hand. Lab staff at the University of Washington had assigned snack food names to individual sea stars during their rearing process. Jason Hodin runs the sea star lab at the University of Washington's Friday Harbor Laboratories, where researchers breed the animals in tanks of filtered seawater.

Sunflower sea stars are considered a keystone species because they protect kelp forests by preying on sea urchins. They also feed on sea cucumbers and can grow more than 3 feet wide. The animals move at speeds up to 5 feet per minute and have eyespots at the end of their arms.

Sea-star wasting disease caused the near-extinction of sunflower sea stars, reducing their population by an estimated 90 percent. Approximately 5 billion stars were lost along the West Coast due to the outbreak. Researchers identified Vibrio bacteria as the cause of the disease after a decade of study. Ocean heat waves amplified by climate change contributed to the growth of these bacteria.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service rescinded the regulatory definition of "harm" in their Endangered Species Act regulations. This action removed the definition from the Code of Federal Regulations in Title 50 parts 17 and 222. A National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration spokesperson stated the agency was prioritizing other mission-critical work regarding the sunflower sea star protection proposal. The Center for Biological Diversity sued in June 2026 to protect the sunflower sea star.

Tom Wooten, Samish tribal chair, noted that sunflower sea stars are not a major part of Samish culture compared to salmon. "We're the salmon people, for sure," Wooten said. He emphasized the ecological role of the predators in maintaining balance.

"That's why those starfish are so important, because they munch those green urchins!" he said. "You need those predators." The Samish Indian Nation is a federally recognized tribe located in Skagit County, Washington, and is a signatory to the Treaty of Point Elliott of 1855.

Why It Matters

The restoration effort addresses a decline in a keystone predator that supports kelp forest ecosystems. The loss of approximately 5 billion sunflower sea stars along the West Coast disrupted ecological balance, allowing sea urchin populations to expand unchecked. Reintroducing lab-reared individuals aims to reverse this trend and support biodiversity in the northeastern Pacific.

Legal and regulatory uncertainties surround the federal protection status of the species. The rescission of the regulatory definition of "harm" and the lack of action on the Endangered Species Act proposal have prompted litigation from environmental groups. The outcome of these legal challenges may influence future conservation strategies for marine species affected by climate-related diseases.

Timeline

In October 2025, the planned release of sunflower sea stars was postponed due to a surge in sea-star wasting disease in the San Juan Islands. In June 2026, the Center for Biological Diversity sued to protect the sunflower sea star. On August 16, 2026, the release of 20 lab-reared sunflower sea stars occurred as part of a joint effort by the Samish Indian Nation and University of Washington researchers.

On August 16, 2026, a Samish Indian Nation research boat named Chinook (Yómech) departed from Anacortes, Washington, to transport sunflower sea stars. Also on August 16, 2026, a National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration spokesperson stated the agency was prioritizing other mission-critical work regarding the sunflower sea star protection proposal. On the same date, divers transported 20 lab-reared sunflower sea stars from Friday Harbor on San Juan Island for release.

The lab-reared sunflower sea stars released in August 2026 were three years old. On August 16, 2026, Samish tribal chair Tom Wooten said, "We're the salmon people, for sure."

What's New

Additional reporting confirms that the release of 20 lab-reared sunflower sea stars occurred on August 16, 2026, as part of a joint effort by the Samish Indian Nation and University of Washington researchers. Records indicate that in 2024, researchers from the University of Washington's Friday Harbor Laboratories released 10 lab-grown sunflower sea stars into the wild, which were monitored for survival and growth.

Regulatory documents show that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service rescinded the regulatory definition of "harm" in their Endangered Species Act regulations, removing it from the Code of Federal Regulations in Title 50 parts 17 and 222. Estimates indicate the sunflower sea star population was reduced by 90% due to sea star wasting disease, with an estimated 5 billion stars lost along the West Coast.

Tribal records identify the Samish Indian Nation as a federally recognized tribe of Samish people located in Skagit County, Washington, and a signatory to the Treaty of Point Elliott of 1855. Other sources confirm the Samish Indian Nation is a federally recognized Indian tribe in Washington state. Botanical references note that the common sunflower is a species of flowering plant in the family of Asteraceae.

How Sources Differ

Regarding the collaboration between the Samish Indian Nation and the University of Washington, desk_web states that the release of 20 lab-reared sunflower sea stars occurred on August 16, 2026, as part of a joint effort by the Samish Indian Nation and University of Washington researchers. The University of Washington research program states that University of Washington researchers are working with the Samish Indian Nation to restore sunflower sea star populations.

Regarding the logistics of the release, desk_web states that the release of 20 lab-reared sunflower sea stars occurred on August 16, 2026, as part of a joint effort by the Samish Indian Nation and University of Washington researchers. The Samish Indian Nation vessel log states that a Samish Indian Nation research boat named Chinook (Yómech) departed from Anacortes, Washington, to transport sunflower sea stars.

Regarding the status of the Samish Indian Nation, desk_web states that the release of 20 lab-reared sunflower sea stars occurred on August 16, 2026, as part of a joint effort by the Samish Indian Nation and University of Washington researchers. Wikipedia states that the Samish Indian Nation is a federally recognized tribe of Samish people located in Skagit County, Washington, and is a signatory to the Treaty of Point Elliott of 1855.

Regarding the cultural significance of the species, desk_web states that the release of 20 lab-reared sunflower sea stars occurred on August 16, 2026, as part of a joint effort by the Samish Indian Nation and University of Washington researchers. Samish Indian Nation cultural records state that sunflower sea stars are not a major part of Samish culture compared to salmon.

Regarding the tribal recognition, desk_web states that the release of 20 lab-reared sunflower sea stars occurred on August 16, 2026, as part of a joint effort by the Samish Indian Nation and University of Washington researchers. Wikidata states that the Samish Indian Nation is a federally recognized Indian tribe in Washington state.

Regarding previous releases, desk_web states that in 2024, researchers from the University of Washington's Friday Harbor Laboratories released 10 lab-grown sunflower sea stars into the wild, which were monitored for survival and growth. The University of Washington research program states that University of Washington researchers are working with the Samish Indian Nation to restore sunflower sea star populations.

Regarding laboratory leadership, desk_web states that in 2024, researchers from the University of Washington's Friday Harbor Laboratories released 10 lab-grown sunflower sea stars into the wild, which were monitored for survival and growth. The University of Washington staff directory states that Jason Hodin runs the sea star lab at the University of Washington's Friday Harbor Laboratories.

Regarding breeding methods, desk_web states that in 2024, researchers from the University of Washington's Friday Harbor Laboratories released 10 lab-grown sunflower sea stars into the wild, which were monitored for survival and growth. University of Washington Friday Harbor Laboratories methods state that researchers at Friday Harbor Laboratories breed sunflower sea stars in tanks of filtered seawater.