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ECONOMIC FACTORS RELATING TO USE OF STARFISH FOR PROTEIN MEALS 



Special handling of starfish in any quantity, large or small, would be justi- 

 fied if the material were to be used in preparation of amino acids or vitamin and 



hormone intermediates . However, at pres - 

 ent , the only proven value of starfish 

 is as a source of protein in poultry 

 feed or in fertilizer . For these pur- 

 poses, it is in direct competition with 

 the other protein byproducts . Some of 

 these are crab scrap meal, shrimp and 

 lobster bran, and the "white fish" meal 

 produced from New England groundfish 

 fillet scrap. In fact, since starfish 

 meal is merely a potential source of 

 protein dependent on economic factors , 

 other potential sources might be used 

 under certain circumstances. Of these 

 might be mentioned the enormous quan- 

 tities of trash fish discarded by the 

 North Atlantic trawl fisheries, as well 

 as the smaller, but sizable, quantity 

 of trash fish taken, but not utilized, by the shrimp trawlers in the South Atlantic 

 and Gulf. 



STARFISHING VESSEL 



For this reason, the creation of an industry based on the use of starfish 

 as a raw material for the production of protein meals is dependent upon a number 

 of factors, each directly affecting its economic feasibility. To be considered 

 are: 



1. The amount of starfish available from present control efforts of the 

 oyster industry, and costs thereof. 



2. The regularity of supply from month to month and over a period of years. 



3. The possible quantity of starfish to be obtained from a separate fishery 

 and costs of such operations. 



4. The cost of production, transportation and marketing of starfish meal. 



It is virtually impossible to obtain data on the catch of starfish, cost of 

 control operations, fluctuations in the number of starfish and other pertinent 

 information (Galtsoff and Loosanoff, 1939 and Burkenroad, 1946). Starfish are 

 regarded by oystermen as a necessary evil to be kept at the lowest level consonant 

 with a reasonable expenditure of money and effort. Operating costs of vessels used 

 for starfish control vary widely with the type and size of vessel used and the 

 method of control. In 1947, these were estimated to be $35 to $50 per day at a 

 minimum, while costs may exceed $150 per day per vessel when the large oyster 

 dredge boats are transferred to cleaning grounds of starfish. 



The amount of starfish taken by these control efforts is even harder to esti- 

 mate. Generally, the starfish have not been brought to shore so that a quantitative 

 estimate is not possible. The starfish are landed on deck only when the mops are 

 hand-picked or during the uncommon occasions when starfish are dredged. Catch 

 estimates of starfish taken by the mops which are dipped in hot water are, at best, 

 rough estimates. The material taken by dredge may consist of more crabs, conchs, 

 oysters, shells, and rocks , than of starfish. If the amount of starfish exterminated 



