December 11, 1998
Web posted at: 5:05 PM EST

By Environmental News Network staff

One of the largest and most complex problems facing sea horses is that out of the 20 million creatures captured each year, more than 95 percent of them are used for traditional Chinese medicines.

(ENN) -- Sea horses, the small, equine-looking marine fishes found in coastal habitats, are threatened by their popularity with practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine, aquarists and the habitat disruptions caused by coastal fisheries.

On Wednesday, marine biologists and aquarium experts from around the world wrapped up a meeting at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Ill., where they worked out ways to coordinate their research efforts on the care and management of sea horses.

The experts hope to conserve this unique genus before each of the 32 species are listed as endangered and subject to strict controls under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

"By getting this group together we were able discuss our successes and challenges in sea horse conservation," said Jeff Boehm, head of research and veterinary services at Shedd Aquarium.

"We have set research goals and have acknowledged that if we look at our areas of expertise all together we are going to solve some of these problems," he said.

One of the largest and most complex problems facing sea horses is that out of the 20 million creatures captured each year, more than 95 percent of them are used for traditional Chinese medicines.

"Traditional Chinese medicines are a very valid use of sea horses," said Amanda Vincent, an assistant professor of conservation biology at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. "The challenge is learning how to manage this use properly."

One of the things that makes sea horses so unique and popular as a traditional Chinese medicine is the fact that the male of the species is the one that becomes pregnant, endures labor and gives birth to the young.

Another main threat to sea horses is their popularity with aquarists who don't really know how to care for the creatures.

In Chinese communities worldwide, potions made from sea horses are used to treat everything from impotence and infertility to asthma and skin diseases.

Without sufficient scientific knowledge about what makes sea horse-derived traditional medicines effective, scientists have not developed a synthetic version. Besides, conservationists feel that working with communities to diminish the pressure on sea horses is more effective.

One such joint-venture project between Vincent's organization Project Sea Horse and the Shedd Aquarium is in the coastal village of Handumon, Phillipines, where the villagers make handicrafts that are sold at the Shedd Aquarium.

The income from the handicrafts supplements income that the villagers would have obtained through the harvest of sea horses for sale into the traditional Chinese medicine market.

"We very much take the approach that discussion is better than conflict," said Vincent. The village of Handumon now has several marine protected areas and sea horse reserves and education programs are in development.

Another approach to sea horse conservation may be the development of small, family based sea horse farms, but Vincent remains skeptical of aquaculture projects because so little is known about sea horse husbandry.

In fact, another main threat to sea horses is their popularity among aquarists who don't really know how to care for the creatures. Sea horses' digestive systems require live food and the creatures are finicky about their environment, prone to illness and can die in a matter of months.

Multimedia

Serious about sea horses Requires RealPlayer

"It is only the rare aquarist who has the knowledge to keep sea horses," said Boehm.

Yet it is exhibits like Sea Horse Symphony currently on display at the Shedd Aquarium that marine biologists and conservationists alike hope will educate the public about sea horses and their conservation needs.

Since the exhibit went on display last May over a million people have visited the aquarium to specifically see the sea horses. Though it is hard to tell how effective the exhibit is in instilling a conservation ethic in the aquarium's visitors, Boehm is optimistic about the reactions he has gotten so far.

"We went into the exhibit with the intent of exciting our visitors," he said. "One of our goals is to educate people. We want them to learn about basic biology and conservation."

So far, the exhibit has done just that and the conference hosted by the aquarium has enthused the research community to return to their home countries and spread the word about sea horse conservation, said Vincent.

Copyright 1998, Environmental News Network, All Rights Reserved