DON'T TOUCH IT!

Lately I have been seeing a lot of posts about shell searchers showing off their daily haul of not only shells, but starfish and seahorses.

The picture of one proudly holding and displaying their recent find of a seahorse or starfish creates a mixed bag of praise and annoyance from readers. Perhaps if one were made aware of the consequences of taking these animals out of the water they instead might choose to enjoy watching them in their natural habitat.

If you touch a starfish, it will most likely die. Starfish live underwater, so once lifted, they can die. These sea animals breath using their tube feet. If starfish are lifted out of the water, they will start breathing toxic matter.

Although not all, some starfish are sensitive, and mere touching can make them stressed. Starfish react to touch, if they react, they are alive. If not, they are dead. Plain and simple. A dead starfish will change color in death often becoming paler or white and will shrink in size. But color is not a true indicator of life.

In Florida, it’s illegal to take live starfish from the beach. If you find a live starfish or any other sea creature, it’s important to return it to its natural habitat. Violating this law can result in hefty fines. So, if you come across a starfish, admire its beauty but leave it be! 🌟🐚