Show/hide picture credits
Seagrass - Dominic Flint, Pipefish - Dominic Flint
Spiny Seahorse - F. Apesteguy, Jewel Anemone - C. Proctor
Seahorse illustration - Simon Carpenter




Seahorses under threat…
Seahorse populations around the world are declining rapidly. Perhaps because they are so weird and amazing they have been credited for centuries with magical and medicinal qualities – this is now threatening their very survival. They are threatened by overfishing for use in traditional medicines, as aquarium specimens (where the majority quickly die) and as souvenirs. To compound the problem, seahorses are generally found in shallow coastal water habitat such as in seagrass beds, mangroves, coral reefs and estuaries. These are among the most threatened marine habitats on the planet. They are being polluted, overfished and destroyed by humans as you read this. For more information look up The Seahorse Trust website and The Project Seahorse website.

