In Connecticut, the cost per day per boat, which includes 7 hours of
mopping and 3 hours of sailing, was estimated at $1400CAD (D. Hopp, pers.
comm., 2006). This is based on three minute treatments with the use of an 8 foot
tow bar with 12 cotton bundles and a 65 foot boat. Sea stars are collected with
the mop 12 months a year on a daily basis by two boats that cover a 20,000 acre
oyster lease. If sea stars densities are not too high, approximately 100 acres can
be covered in one day. Sea stars are removed from the mops by soaking them
in heated salt water or removing by hand if there are fewer than 30 sea stars
entangled per mop.