The Illegal Seahorse Trade Is Bigger Than You Think

The illegal trade in wildlife is a continuing threat to global biodiversity, and marine organisms are victims in the same way as land animals. People participate in this trade because it is highly lucrative, with estimates of its value ranging from $7.8 billion to $23 billion annually, depending on the source. In an attempt to prevent the overexploitation of vulnerable species, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was introduced. It protects more than 40,000 species of animals and plants.

Seahorses were the first marine fish to be added to the list. They provide an important case study of illegal trade because millions of them belonging to more than 30 species are illegally traded every year from more than 80 countries. These creatures are primarily traded for the traditional Chinese medicine market, but some end up in aquariums. To determine the scale of the illegal trade in seahorses and who exactly is doing it, scientists from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, conducted a study of online seizure reports. This is what they found out.

How Many Seahorses Are Being Smuggled?

The researchers concluded that seahorses worth nearly CAD$29 million were seized between 2010 and 2021. In total, 4.93 million seahorses were confiscated. However, the 300 seizures analyzed in this study likely represent only a small fraction of the actual illegal trade.

Who Is Smuggling the Seahorses?

Online information about enforcement actions against individuals involved in the seahorse trade was limited. Nevertheless, the researchers determined that most seizures involved only a small number of offenders. In the majority of seizures (87), only one person was involved. In another 52 cases, between two and four people were involved. The perpetrators were detained and faced either jail time or fines.

The seahorses were most commonly seized from air passengers. Most were found in passengers’ baggage. However, large numbers were seized as sea cargo, and some were also found in commercial buildings such as warehouses. Some were even sent by mail. While most seizures occurred in Asia, a total of 62 jurisdictions were implicated. This includes Africa, Europe, Central America, South America, North America, and the Caribbean. That said, the major trade routes had mainland China as their destination.

Which Seahorses Are Traded?

Unfortunately, species information was not collected for many of the seizures. Nevertheless, the researchers were able to figure out that the most frequently reported were Hippocampus spinosissimus (hedgehog seahorse) and Hippocampus ingens (Pacific seahorse). Live seahorses were seized on only four occasions. Most were dried whole seahorses, but some were already processed into medicinal products.

Legally Trading Seahorses

Not all seahorse trade is illegal. They can be sold as long as the appropriate permits show that no wild populations have been harmed as a result. Ultimately, the solution is to establish a sustainable, legal trade with strong deterrents to prevent illegal activity.