The field survey

Goal: understanding the distribution and vulnerability of Indonesia’s seahorses, and their interaction with fisheries and coastal livelihoods

A focused field survey took place across Indonesia between May and October 2025, with additional gap-filling survey work on a number of occasions since then. The field survey served to collect information about seahorses, their interaction with fisheries, and their utilization.

A big thank you to everyone who provided support and information to the field team, in particularly the many respondents who provided information during interviews (some of whom continue to share additional seahorse observations and photos!)

Field Team

Two young Indonesian researchers who travelled far and wide across Indonesia in May- October 2025 have constituted our core field team. Additional field work has also been carried out by colleagues at the Centre for Biota Systems at BRIN. The field team originally received training in interview-based field methods, species identification, and specimen measurements from members of Project Seahorse in Canada and the Philippines in March 2025. The training included field excursions to ports and landing sites in Jakarta and the Seribu Islands, a visit to exploration of an aquaculture facility, and visits to markets for aquarium fishes and for traditional medicines.

Training the field team © Jana McPherson / Project Seahorse

Research Approach

Our field team visited major urban centres as well as fishing communities to conduct interviews with a diverse set of people, including participants in seahorse fisheries (and trade, where applicable), local fisheries and marine conservation officials, NGO staff, and divers. This approach allowed us to collate knowledge held by those who have directly observed seahorses or taken part in seahorse catch and utilization, and can provide valuable insights on ecology, threats, trade, and livelihood impacts.

In total, we have gathered information from more than 300 interviews. Interviews were conversational but guided by a comprehensive set of predefined questions specific to each respondent type. Across respondents, questions covered: seahorse biology, ecology, fishing methods, catch-per-unit-effort, volumes and values for trade (as applicable), uses (domestic and international), trade structure, trade routes, and temporal trends. The survey also captured information on the cultural value and economic importance of seahorses, participants’ awareness of regulations, and any concerns or opportunities respondents may perceive.

Interviews were conducted by members of our research team in Bahasa (or another language the respondent and field team were comfortable in). Respondents were chosen both at random and via community referral (where an existing respondent suggests others who might have relevant knowledge). Of course, participation on behalf of respondents was entirely voluntary; before beginning an interview, our researchers sought the respondent’s free, prior, informed consent. Respondents were usually handed a small brochure with further information on the project and a contact address in case of concerns or complaints. Interviews lasted as much time as respondents were willing to give.

When respondents had seahorses and gave permission, our field team measured and photographed the seahorse specimens for taxonomic identification and, where possible, determined size, weight, sex, and reproductive status.

To protect survey participants, our field team did not record identifying information, such as names, alongside responses. Moreover, results from the survey are only ever presented in summarised form, so that specific responses cannot be associated with any individual respondent.