Over the past few years, more than 5 billion starfish have died around the world, and the species’ once abundant population has declined by more than 90 percent. More than 10 billion snow crabs starved to death in the Bering Sea between 2018 and 2021, leading to the first-ever closure of one of the nation’s most lucrative fisheries. Meanwhile, in southern New England, a disease that causes shell deterioration emerged in the early 2000s, just as the once-thriving lobster fishery collapsed. And the current avian influenza pandemic has devastated marine mammal populations, killing 97 percent of elephant seal pups in one colony in Argentina in 2023.

In some of these cases, the disease is the direct cause of mass mortality. It may also be one of the many complex stressors facing marine ecosystems in rapidly changing oceans. However, all of these crises highlight the increasing risks of marine diseases and the growing urgency of understanding and managing them.

for that, new special edition of Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B The first thorough collection of peer-reviewed research on disease management in marine wildlife. Articles in this issue consider emerging pathogens, recent methodological advances, the increasing role of climate change, opportunities for ecosystem-based management, and guidelines for investigating new diseases. The book is co-edited by researchers from the Bigelow Institute of Marine Science, the Hakai Research Institute, and the USGS Western Fisheries Research Center.

“One of the themes that stands out in this issue is that we can simultaneously learn about fundamental aspects of the ecology and evolution of marine infectious diseases while evaluating management opportunities,” said Bigelow Institute Senior Research Scientist Maya Groner, co-editor of the issue. “This approach is critical because changing conditions can lead to an increase in the spread of the disease.”

Despite their potential impact on coastal economies, food security, and ecosystems, the ecology of marine diseases has historically lagged behind research on terrestrial diseases. Resource managers have limited ability to track, predict, and manage marine diseases, and few studies have proposed management solutions tailored to ocean-specific challenges and opportunities.

But in recent years, the field has experienced a resurgence, thanks to new genomic and AI tools and advances in ocean modeling that allow scientists to diagnose and characterize diseases and monitor their spread.

build on philosophical trading Published in 2016 — the first journal issue focused broadly on marine disease ecology — this new publication presents recent advances and demonstrates the value of combining traditional epidemiological approaches with new technologies.

“As we become more aware of the impact of large-scale marine disease outbreaks, we are making significant advances in our ability to quantify and detect disease events across a wide range of species, as demonstrated in this issue,” said co-editor Alyssa Gehman, principal investigator at the Hakai Institute.

The articles in this issue primarily focus on diseases affecting wild populations and the logistically, scientifically, and financially challenging tasks. Some studies look at threats to the aquaculture industry, such as a deadly virus that is straining the oyster industry in Europe and elsewhere. Some researchers are focusing on broader impacts and how to make ecosystems like coral reefs more resistant to disease.

From the iconic American lobster to the sunflower star, a key predator of kelp forests, many of the species studied have important economic, ecological, or cultural value. And many of the diseases in the spotlight respond to environmental conditions, from rising temperatures to changes in salinity.

Most importantly, this issue prioritizes translating scientific discoveries into practical management strategies to reduce the impact of high-impact diseases. Topics covered in this issue include: Molecular tools to identify emerging diseases. Strategies for investigating diseases of unknown origin. An approach to modeling the causes of disease in remote areas of the ocean. How to evaluate post-emergence species reintroductions.

Similar outcomes were found across studies, including the value of observer networks, efficient information sharing, regular disease monitoring, and proactive screening. The editors say these lessons highlight how important continued funding and relationship-building between governing bodies and research institutions are for this research.

“Collaboration between scientists and resource managers is essential to effectively translate knowledge into action,” Groner said.

“The contributions in this issue reflect the benefits of collaboration between management, industry, and academics to effectively respond to disease emergencies,” added co-editor David Paez, a quantitative biologist at the USGS Western Fisheries Research Center. “While more work is required, we are hopeful that we are slowly building the infrastructure to adequately serve our operational needs.”

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