Buying Dried Sealife

[Usagi]

I was looking around the web for starfish that I could buy. I went on ebay and found a pack of 25+ for about $5. Since it was so cheap, I went to look at what else the seller had. As I was scrolling through the items, I came across dried, taxidermed (if that's the right word) blow/pufferfish and dried tiny seahorses. I was really disturbed by it and it made me realize that the starfish I wanted to buy were once living creatures. Obviously I know starfish are animals, but it just never occurred to me that they might be getting killed to be sold. Now I don't know what to do. Is there somewhere that sells dried starfish that were dead before they were dried?:(

[Mermaid Celissa]

Unfortunately, I've come across that situation before. I don't even know if there IS a clear way to know about a starfish's past. For now I only buy things that I know were never alive (like shells, pearls, etc) or realistic but not-real starfish. Sorry that person disturbed you.

[Traveling Merman]

I always thought shells are the armour of a living organism and a lot of molluscs are killed just for their shells or pearls, that's what pearl farms are..... O-o

Buy fake and avoid the guilt, but then what it took to produce the fake stuff kills god knows how many trees, animals and Eco systems anyway. :/

[Usagi]

Agh, so complicated :(

[Mermaid Celissa]

Oh, I only meant I only take what I can find. On the beach, I collect empty shells to make things with. I didn't mean REAL pearls. I have a box-full of glass pearl beads that I use for lots of things. Sorry I worded my top post wrong, I never buy anything real. It's surprising how similar some fake things can look to real.

Here's my pearl beads: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Cousin-Glass-Pearls-Bead-Assortment/17354443

[Odette]

I suggest fakes. its the safe way to go if your'e not sure. ;)

[Dacora]

I have seen sellers (mostly on etsy) who sell animal products that die from natural causes or it has been upcycled. That is how I get my leather products. I imagine it might be a bit harder for things like sea stars but it's worth looking into. Also you could buy fake silicone ones that look real and are water safe.

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[Mermaid Petronella]

I agree with others, you could buy fake ones that look real, that way you know for sure no starfish has been killed!

[Blondie]

Yeah at the farmer's market in town people sell the blowfish and even baby gator heads.

I mean... It's just kinda strange to me as well. The gator heads always get me because well... They're babies and they're just sold for leather and their heads get cut off for show. I think that's just bizarre. Dead starfish and shells on the bead are basically not needed or alive most of the time. That's sort of why they've been washed up. If it's dead then whatever you can take it it's like recycling. But taking a starfish and purposely killing it for decoration is kinda strange to me...

[Spindrift]

I know that a pier shop in San Francisco sells dried starfish that were taken from certain beaches. They were an introduced species to those beaches and have been harmful to the natural environment there.

[Coradion]

Eh, most echinoderms that are collected for the curio trade are pretty abundant. I wouldn't worry too much about starfishes if you're just buying a couple or one to model. Try what merbellas does and use one as a reference and then sculpt a mold to make your own silicone starfish.

[Meronica]

I think it's worth mentioning that Mermaid Atlantis sells gorgeous silicone starfish on Etsy that you could use in your crafts. (: I've also seen molds to make your own. Real dried starfish can't be used if you plan on swimming in whatever you're making, as they'll begin to decompose.

I personally don't like to contribute to any animal's suffering/death and feel that humans take way too many creatures out of the ocean so I could never bring myself to use real starfish/ sea horses. Those are mermaids' best friends! :(

[AniaR]

Hrm now you've all made me think. I have some dry starfish and I love having them to show the kids. I only ever bought one set years ago everything else is either fake or something I collected myself. I don't plan on buying more now

[Mermaid Galene]

I do not buy dried real sea creatures. I suppose a very diligent buyer could research what species that animal is - whether they are rare, endangered, or an invasive that needs to be eradicated. In practice that would be very difficult. And regardless of those distinctions, I feel that supporting any trade in wild animal parts is ill advised. Whether for the decor trade or Asian medicine trade or some other purpose, sea animals are killed and sold in HUGE quantities. We're talking by the billions. Even if the target species is not presently in any danger of extinction, the overwhelming majority of collectors of these animals use indiscriminate methods of harvesting. Large numbers of other animals, referred to as "bycatch," are accidentally caught along with the target species. Most of those animals die. And none of these animals are killed humanely. Pretty much nobody in the sea fishing/harvesting industry practices humane methods of killing, because most are of the opinion that these animals have no intelligence or awareness and do not feel pain. And that is DEAD wrong. Science has proven this, and any observant aquarist can attest that aquatic animals feel pain and fear just like land animals. I find the very idea of buying and selling dried sea animals repugnant. I have only to watch the grace, intelligence, and emotional vulnerability of my own seahorses to realize that I want no harm inflicted upon creatures of the sea.

[Seatan]

I am fine with hunting for meat, but not for trophies alone. I was in Honduras this summer and we spearfished lionfish which are introduced and harmful to the reef with no natural predators there, then we ate them. As for starfish... I do not really have a problem with taking starfish. They are VERY abundant. I eat meat and ride horses, which some of my PETA friends thinks is the work of the devil. I just tell them that if a horse doesn't want me on its back then I won't be there--if an animal like that truly does not want to be ridden, you will learn to fly. Or be run under a low branch. All the joys of riding. ;) As for other species in the sea... to me it depends on their abundance and how quickly the multiply. For example, white tail deer in Texas will overrun an area if not hunted down every season then die from starvation as winter nears. All the natural predators have been chased off and their grazing area has been minimized by urban construction. But Texas is very careful to make sure they are not OVER hunted, placing a cap on how many you can kill.

[Vrindavana Starfish]

I've been gifted a couple of dried starfish, but after seeing populations dwindle first-hand in the Keyes, I realized that they were being harvested for decoration. I try to collect all of my own seashells or sand dollars, etc., and use fake ones for jewelry and decorations. If I buy something with real seashells, I try to find out about the source.