Traditional medicines threaten seahorses

Forest and Bird, Issue 279, 1 February 1996, Page 10

Traditional medicines threaten seahorses

Source:

TRAFFIC Bulletin

SEAHORSE populations are plummeting around the world as they are heavily exploited for use as medicines, aphrodisiacs, aquarium fishes, curios and food. Trade in these beautiful and unusual fish — estimated now at 20 million animals a year — is rapidly increasing, driven largely by China’s economic growth and the ensuing increase in demand for medicinal products in that country. Research biologist Amanda Vincent, of Oxford University, says that "populations of the seahorses are certainly collapsing under exploitation". What we know of their biology suggests the animals are

very vulnerable to fishing pressure. Parental care for up to six weeks and small brood size limit the potential rate of reproduction; strict monogamy means that social structure is easily disrupted; sparse distribution retards re-pairing; and small home ranges and low mobility restrict the recolonisation of depleted areas. Countries that fish seahorses stretch from the Middle East to Australia and South America. In Hong Kong, large bleached seahorses can fetch up to US$1,200 a kilogram. Vincent urges caution in relation to trade restrictions arguing they would be unenforceable and merely drive the trade underground. Better options she says would be localised community-based protection in the form of reserves (these are already working in areas of the Philippines), fishing restrictions (no juveniles or pregnant males), rotation of harvest areas and enhancement of seahorse numbers through improved aquaculture.