Crown-of-Thorn starfish in plague proportions are threatening to destroy Australia's famous thousand-mile long (1,600 kms) coral reef, the Great Barrier Reef.

An American expert, Dr. Bruce Halstead, who visited parts of the reef recently said he saw more starfish in one underwater dive than he had in 20 years of working in the Pacific. He said there had been a population explosion of the starfish.

Dr. Halstead said that the World Life Research Institute, of which he is a director, would establish a marine-laboratory at Magnetic Island, off the Queensland coast, where research would be carried out on the Crown-of-Thorns starfish.

In Brisbane a special government study is underway, on the extent of the starfish plague.

Underwater diving organisations in Australia are launching public appeals for funds to buy equipment and bring divers to the reef to start the campaign against the starfish.