Since the early 1960s, debate over managements of the phenomenom of large populations of the coral eating crown-of-throns starfish has presented a major ecological conundrum: Is it normal, human-induced or human-increased? Whilst that is unresolved there is a second conundrum for the reef manager: Should there be systematic controls? This essay discusses progress in resolution of the conundrums after more than 25 years experience of research and management.