Thousands of crown-of-thorn starfish which have been eating through the southern regions of the Great Barrier Reef will be targeted in large-scale cull over the following week. 

The Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Control Program, led by Project Manager Steve Moon, will be implemented over nine days and include twenty-five divers in a collaborative action between government agencies, private industries, and the local community.

Mr Moon, emphasising the cull will focus on containment over eradication, said the project will aim to kill one thousand starfish per diver each day.