Hmm, I think your stance is a tad defeatist in this specific instance. The article's main contention is without the Sunflower sea stars, the urchins have no eag

Hmm, I think your stance is a tad defeatist in this specific instance. The article's main contention is without the Sunflower sea stars, the urchins have no eager predation, and therefore can decimate any kelp nearby. I believe it's possible to have modern luxuries without making sea stars extinct, but the scale and diversity and degree to which we use those luxuries will determine how much damage we do. There's also the possibility a specific pollutant is harming the sea stars, which was the case with birds' eggs and pesticides in the past.