A recent study conducted by Canadian researchers revealed that approximately five million smuggled seahorses were confiscated globally over a span of ten years. The researchers from the University of British Columbia examined public seizure reports and news articles from 2010 to 2021, uncovering nearly 300 seizures involving seahorses across 62 countries.
The total value of the seized seahorses was estimated to be around $29 million (USD). Dried seahorses are in high demand for traditional medicine, with China and Hong Kong identified as the primary destinations. Notably, these seahorses are also available for purchase online and in traditional medicine stores in Canada.
Lead author Sarah Foster, a researcher at UBC’s Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries and program lead at Project Seahorse, emphasized that the reported seizures represent only a fraction of the actual illegal seahorse trade scale. Although no seizures were reported in Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada disclosed that 19 enforcement files related to seahorses have been initiated since 2020, predominantly involving dried seahorses and seahorse-based products in the Pacific region.
The study highlighted the intricate network of smuggling routes used to transport seahorses illegally, with most seizures linked to passenger luggage at airports and larger volumes moved via sea cargo. These seahorses were often traded alongside other wildlife such as penguins, elephant ivory, pangolin scales, sea cucumbers, and shark fins.
To combat this illicit global trade, Foster stressed the importance of international collaboration among governments to share information and strategies for apprehending smugglers while safeguarding marine biodiversity. Legal trade in seahorses is regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), with exporters required to obtain permits demonstrating legal sourcing and conservation efforts.
The study also underscored the detrimental impact of illegal harvesting on seahorse populations and marine ecosystems. Max Valentine, campaign director of illegal fishing and transparency at Oceana, emphasized the urgent need to address the destructive fishing practices associated with seahorse harvesting.
Valentine highlighted the severe consequences of bottom trawling, a destructive fishing method that devastates marine habitats. Illegal seahorse harvesting disrupts the marine food chain, affecting both seahorse prey and predators, leading to ecological imbalances.
By shedding light on the challenges faced by seahorses, the study aims to raise awareness of broader threats to marine life. Foster emphasized the vital role of seahorse conservation in preserving marine ecosystems, stating that protecting seahorses ultimately safeguards the health of the oceans.
