Dried starfish and sea urchin

Dried starfish and sea urchin

These starfish and a sea urchin (top centre) were collected by underwater divers near Kapiti Island in 1971. A hobby at the time was to dry the specimens to make wall plaques. Since 1992 much of the underwater life of Kapiti Island has been protected in a marine reserve, and it is illegal to collect animals such as these within its bounds.