A combined effort saw 103 crown-of-thorns starfish eradicated in Rarotonga on Thursday as part of Operation Taramea.

Over 30 divers and six boats departed Avatiu wharf yesterday afternoon as part of CNN Call to Earth Day.

Operation Taramea has been on-going since 2020 when the recent outbreak was discovered on Rarotonga in 2019.

Non-government organisation, Kōrero o te ‘Ōrau has led the project in collaboration with Climate Change Cook Islands/GCCA+SUPA, the National Environment Service, Cook Islands Tourism, and local and international partners.

The team have removed more than 5000 Taramea to date.

Taramea is an invasive starfish that kills coral reefs.

More of the story in Saturday’s edition.