Species profile
Ochre Sea Star
Pisaster ochraceus
At a glance
Ochre Sea Star (Pisaster ochraceus) is an echinoderm with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
Confirmed by 71,542 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with California, British Columbia, and Washington the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- A keystone species — its removal allows mussels to crowd out most other intertidal life.
- Despite the name 'ochre,' individuals are commonly purple or bright orange, rarely yellow-brown.
- It can reach about 50 cm across and live more than 20 years.
- It digests mussels by extruding its stomach through its mouth directly into the prey's shell.
- Sea Star Wasting Syndrome beginning in 2013 killed millions of ochre sea stars along the Pacific coast.
Where Ochre Sea Star are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Ochre Sea Star
Background
Pisaster ochraceus, generally known as the purple sea star, ochre sea star, or ochre starfish, is a common starfish found among the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Identified as a keystone species, Pisaster is considered an important indicator for the health of the intertidal zone.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Ochre Sea Star article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other starfish/urchins/cucumbers on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.