Fisheries, large-scale trade, and conservation of seahorses in Malaysia and Thailand

Abstract

All seahorse species (genus Hippocampus) are listed under CITES Appendix II, requiring that exports of these fishes must be regulated for sustainability. Preliminary trade surveys and anecdotal reports suggested Malaysia and Thailand represented an important source for seahorses used globally in traditional medicine, curios, and aquarium display, but few historic trade or fisheries data are available. The objectives of this study were to: (1) determine seahorse species in trade; (2) identify trade routes, including source and destination markets; (3) quantify numbers and/or volumes of seahorses, both live and dried, that were caught, consumed, and traded; and (4) assess trends in seahorse catch rates, supply, demand, domestic use, imports, and exports, particularly where such patterns might indicate declines in Malaysian and Thai seahorse populations.