Seahorse also needs to be protected
Allan Rom, a Capitol Anti-illegal Fishing Task Force inspector, shows a dead seahorse that was among the aquatic animals seized from illegal commercial fishers. (CDN PHOTO/CARINE M. ASUTILLA)
An international wildlife conservation group is pushing for the protection of seahorses in the Philippines by utilizing the power of citizen involvement.
The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) has initiated an online campaign called iSeahorse wherein “citizen scientists” can help improve the human understanding of these creatures and protect them from overfishing and other threats.
Threatened
Charity Mapale, project coordinator for the Philippines of ZSL, said seahorses have been listed as ‘threatened with extinction’ under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Mapale added that there is a high demand for seahorses abroad. Seahorses are reportedly used in traditional Chinese medicine.
A kilogram of seahorse can be sold from P15,000 to P24,000. Most are exported to Hong Kong where it can fetch P40,000 per kilo.
Lack information
She said biologists still lack sufficient information on 26 out of 28 known seahorse species.
At least 11 seahorse species are found in the Philippines.
“If we don’t know anything, how can we protect them?” said Mapale.
Through iSeahorse, “citizen scientists” may upload photographs and post comments and messages on the website.
Just like sharks
Mapale said that seahorses should receive as much care and attention as any other fish, particularly sharks.
“Sharks are fish, seahorses are fish. We should conserve them, too,” she said.
Mapale, along with a fellow marine biologist and three volunteers from Hong Kong, visited the Cebu Provincial Capitol at the invitation of Loy Madrigal, Anti-Illegal Fishing Task Force team head.
Illegal fishing
Biologist Jong Dumalagan identified the six seahorse species that were found among aquatic animals seized from two vessels that were found illegally fishing off Daanbantayan town in northern Cebu last June 4.
Dumalagan identified the seahorses as Hippocampus spinosissimus or the hedgehog seahorse.
He added that two of the three male seahorses were carrying eggs.
Some seahorse species can grow up to a foot long and are capable of giving birth to 1,800 offspring at one time.
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