So you Spot a Live Starfish -Then What?


Maresa Pryor @ Art.com
You give it back to the sea like Linda @ Lime in the Coconut..., "Starfish, my fave find in the ocean, especially when they are still alive and you can throw them back in", she commented on a post of mine.


Stuart Westmoreland @ Art.com
Or you pluck it like Sherry @ Country Wings in Phoenix..., "Here is one of the live star fishes on the rocks. I was determined to take one of these home. Yes Hunny Bunny plucked her right off the rock out of the sea, just for little ole me!"

Me? I'm on board with Linda, or might just leave it alone.

18 comments:

  1. Anonymous8/11/2009

    Hi Maya...I mean, Crystal. :-) I've since been called Sue. Not too many people getting my name right these days. Oh well.

    Knowing what animal lover I am, I would toss a sea creature back into the water if it were still alive. I just think it would be the right thing to do.

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  2. LPC8/11/2009

    I'd leave it there, assuming it got there on purpose for some reason.

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  3. Tamerie Shriver Halliday8/11/2009

    I would never take it if it was still alive. I'd either leave it alone or put it back in the water.

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  4. Barbara Jacksier8/11/2009

    Id toss it back. Gently, of course.

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  5. Jane8/11/2009

    As a native of coastal FL, I learned long ago as a child that live sea life should be left alone or returned to the sea. Never should they be taken home. There are plenty of non-living shells, etc. on the beach. If you want a starfish, buy one.

    Jane (Artfully Graced)

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  6. Regina 8/12/2009

    Hi Maya. I love this.
    Beautiful!

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  7. Shellbelle8/12/2009

    Yes, I leaned many, many years ago to gently put them back in the water. Just as that whale that knew to push that diver to the water's surface when she was in trouble a week or so ago, we should know when the sea's critters need our assistance.

    My starfish have all been found after their demise and I've learned not to buy them. They are "harvested" and dried (killed) to sell to an unknowing public. This goes for seahorses and other critters as well. Sad, but as Maya Angelou says, "When I knew better, I did better."

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  8. Shellbelle8/12/2009

    Oh, I forgot, the link from Completely Coastal to this post is not working. (You can delete this comment after you fix it.)

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  9. Kelley at My Island Wedding8/12/2009

    I would give a toss back after showing it to my kids!

    Hey Maya; I wanted to let you know I did a post the other day with you and your sandcastles!

    Hope all is well.
    -Kelley

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  10. Sahildeki Ev8/12/2009

    I think I have already saved 3-4 this summer..

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  11. Drawn to The Sea8/12/2009

    I was taught not to even lift them out of the water, that they'll usually die even if you return them. Yes, I purchase dried starfish (they don't hang out on our beaches) & shells too (we get precious few). Now you may think me stupid, but I always thank them for their life as I display them. After the hunt, Native Americans always thanked the deer for their life; a reminder that we are all connected on this earth.

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  12. Anonymous8/12/2009

    Yes I always put them back for the tide to carry them out. I will admit that when my granddaughters were here, we transported some back to our house in a bucket of seawater. They thought that they could keep for pets, along with the Anole in the cage that they also captured. The Anole was released the day they left.We went to the pet store and bought him live crickets to eat for the duration of his captivity. The 3 starfish succumbed before we could cart them back to the coast. You never saw such three interested little girls in their starfish. They were so sad when they died, and we buried them under our citrus trees, because they did not want to take the dried corpses home. Yes it was cruel to take them, but it was in the name of science. Or maybe it was Grammy just trying to keep her girls delighted and awed with Florida's treasures.

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  13. Unknown8/12/2009

    In Florida,it is a state law,that you cannot take anything that is alive or has a living creature in it(that would include Hermit Crabs living in a dead shell).A major fine per animal,if you are caugh.The proper way to return ny living creature to the sea is to gently place it back in deeper water.No tossing,throwing,etc.

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  14. Maya@A Beach Lovers Place8/12/2009

    Thank you all for your take on this! I like the Native American ritual, not stupid at all, Julia! And I love the fact that there is a state law in Florida that prohibits taking anything that is alive.

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  15. Laura @ the shorehouse.8/12/2009

    I love I'm Julia's take on it! Very sweet. I can't imagine taking one...I won't even "catch and release" fish. (I'm a vegetarian so I guess that's part of my personal philosophy. :-)

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  16. Sierra 8/12/2009

    I don't know what I would do, probably stair at it and take pictures and then put back in the sea, where it belongs. ;)

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  17. Anonymous8/15/2009

    simply beautifully captured shots....lovely!

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  18. Cheryl8/24/2009

    I am always happy when I have my camera for those moments...I have a shot of a beautiful bright red starfish that I took in the Tortuga's off of Key West :)

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