A new skin cream made from starfish collagen could save more than just people’s skin – it could also save our mussels.
The cream was developed by Cawthron Institute research scientist Dr Matt Miller and Plant and Food Research marine biopolymer science team leader Dr Mathew Cumming by extracting collagen from starfish taken from Ōhiwa Harbour.
Seastars have been increasing in numbers in the harbour in recent years, decimating the shellfish populations.
Conducted by Miller and Cumming, it was found that seastars are a good source of marine collagen, which is in high demand as an ingredient in cosmetics.
Sixty pottles of a product called Hinu Pātangaroa (Starfish cream) was developed using 1 percent starfish collagen. This amount of product was produced using just three starfish.
The product was developed to find ways for removal of starfish from the harbour to be at least partially self-financing.
He said starfish creams were very popular in Asian countries such as Korea.
Ngāti Awa conservationist Te Kei Merito designed the labels for the test product and gifted the name, Hinu Pātangaroa, for the hand cream made with marine collagen extracted from starfish in Ōhiwa Harbour.
Credit: radionz.co.nz
