It's disappointing that both the Newman and Gillard Government's have poo pooed a suggestion from Bob Katter to put a $10 bounty on crown of thorns starfish.

Economists support bounties as a means of controlling some environmental pests. A $10 reward per starfish might be a bit steep though.

http://tools.ntnews.com.au/stories/53534338.php

3 October 2012

FEDERAL MP Bob Katter believes current methods of dealing with the crown of thorns starfish are ridiculous, but his $10 bounty idea could be a sure thing.

Queensland Environment Minister Andrew Powell chuckled when asked if he would consider the proposal and said it would be a "no to big Katter".

Mr Katter says it's obvious Mr Powell isn't familiar with the starfish.
"Don't laugh if you've never been scuba-diving and you've never seen a crown of thorns," Mr Katter told AAP.

"You just need spear - you might need to do a bit of prizing loose, but it ain't rocket science."
He said the government could make a starfish catching license, issued by dive shop operators, a prerequisite for hunters.

Mr Powell says the government is already spending millions on studying reef water quality which will help work out the best ways to manage the crown of thorns.

He claims public safety will be at risk unless properly-trained people are out catching them.

"I wouldn't want to be putting inexperienced people in that situation because they're trying to chase a bounty," Mr Powell told AAP.

His federal counterpart, Tony Burke, also ruled out a bounty, but said he would consider a starfish cull where divers inject them with a protein called sodium bisulfate.

"It's painstaking, you have to go through it one at a time, but that has been the most effective way we've ever had of being able to kill crown of thorns in very large numbers," he told the ABC.

Mr Katter scoffed at the idea and said that was an even more ridiculous than his bounty.

"The starfish has got a toxin inside it and you want to give it a needle," Mr Katter asked.
"You'll be getting a needle back."