Seahorses

Seahorses, captivating marine creatures known for their magical appearance, monogamous pair bonding, and male pregnancies, face significant threats due to illegal trade. Unlike many marine species, seahorses are not targeted by commercial fisheries; however, approximately 70 million seahorses are caught every year as by-catch by bottom trawlers designed to catch everything in their path. This damaging practice creates an inherent supply that perpetuates the use of seahorses in traditional medicine, particularly in Asia, where it’s believed to treat a host of ailments. Once dried, seahorses are ground into powder form to produce pills, capsules and tonics but are sometimes kept whole to produce seahorse wine. While a small fraction of seahorses are destined for the live ornamental trade or to be kept as collectibles, traditional medicine – catered by transnational organised crime - is the primary end user.

Despite multiple source countries enacting export bans and a sweeping CITES Appendix II listing for all 46 seahorse species, the illegal seahorse trade is thriving. In fact, a recent study estimated that approximately 95% of the seahorse trade in Hong Kong was illegal. As long as harmful fishing practices like bottom trawling persist, seahorse populations will continue to be jeopardised and transnational organised crime networks will continue to profit.