Turning seahorse research into action in Peru

Our research over the last four years has revealed the scale of pressures on seahorses in Peru. Our first assessment along the Peruvian coast by our PhD candidate and researcher, Marta Flotats, estimated that at least 17.3 million Pacific seahorses (Hippocampus ingens) were caught in 2022, mainly as bycatch in non-selective fisheries. Of these, at least 4.7 million were estimated to have entered the illegal trade, despite the national ban that has been in place since 2004.

Last year, Marta presented these findings at a multi-stakeholder feedback meeting involving 11 representatives from key Peruvian institutions and partner organizations, many of whom were surprised by the scale of seahorse capture and trade occurring in Peru.

Now, the work enters its next phase. Starting this month, Marta will spend 40 days in northern Peru interviewing around 100 artisanal fishers and 20 stakeholders, including representatives from government agencies, scientists, and conservation organizations. These interviews will provide insights into their perspectives on current fisheries management and potential conservation and management approaches. Marta will also conduct scenario modelling to quantify the projected outcomes of alternative conservation strategies, such as modifications to fishing gear and improvements in fisheries monitoring.

By combining stakeholder perspectives with modelling results, Marta will evaluate the feasibility and potential effectiveness of different conservation strategies. These findings will not only help inform future seahorse management in Peru but may also support the conservation of other vulnerable marine species facing similar threats.