Exploitation of Seahorses and Pipefishes

Any perception of seahorses and pipefishes as cute but rather irrelevant fishes is about to change. These fishes are now the targets of a large international trade, the scale of which is probably unsustainable. They are also victims of wholesale destruction of their offshore habitats. Seahorses and pipefishes (syngnathids) are sold primarily for use as Chinese medicines and aphrodisiacs but also as aquarium fishes, curios and foods. The recent economic boom in China has create an explosive demand for animal and plant products used in a traditional medicine. Public attention has been on tigers, rhinoceroses and bears but seahorses are also highly valued

Vincent, A.C.J. (1995). Exploitation of seahorses and pipefishes. ICLARM [International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management] Quarterly. http://hdl.handle.net/1834/26178