The illegal wildlife trade represents a persistent and far-reaching threat to global biodiversity, affecting thousands of species and extending across almost every country in the world. Hundreds of marine fish species are subject to regulation under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); however, the actual protection they gain from this inclusion is uncertain due to the limited information available on the illegal trade of these marine species.
Seahorses (genus Hippocampus) were the first genus of marine fish to be listed under CITES Appendix II in 2004. Despite this, and the fact that many exporting nations have suspended or banned their legal trade, a new study published in Conservation Biology by researchers from Project Seahorse at The University of British Columbia’s Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, reveals the alarming persistence and magnitude of their illegal trafficking. The research, led by Sarah J. Foster of Project Seahorse, uses an innovative data source: online reports of seahorse seizures. These findings are crucial not only for understanding the dynamics of this illicit trade but also for informing more effective strategies to protect these charismatic and threatened species.
The scale of the problem: millions of seahorses seized annually
To shed light on this clandestine trade, researchers compiled and analyzed 297 unique seahorse seizure records, reported in 192 online news sources, NGO communications, and government agencies between January 2010 and April 2021. The analysis focused on the number of seahorses seized, the estimated value of the shipments, trade routes, and other relevant details of the confiscation operations.
The results are compelling:
- Nearly all seizures involved dried seahorses, widely used in traditional medicine.
- In total, it is estimated that nearly five million seahorses were seized during the ten-year study period, with an estimated value of 29 million Canadian dollars.
- Dr. Sarah Foster, the study’s first author, warns that “the nearly 300 seizures we analyzed were based solely on online records and voluntary disclosures, including government notices and news stories. This means that what we’re seeing is just the tip of the iceberg”. The study cautions that the scale of the trade is much larger than current data suggest.
- Using records that provided values (34 in total), researchers estimated the average value per seahorse to be approximately 7 Canadian dollars.
These numbers, though shocking, likely underestimate the true scale of the illegal trade.
Routes and actors in the illegal seahorse trade
The study identified a complex global trafficking network involving smuggling incidents in 62 countries.
- Origin: Seized seahorses predominantly came from Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
- Destination: Mainland China and Hong Kong were confirmed as major destinations.
- Transit and new routes: The team also found emerging trade routes for dried seahorses involving Europe and Latin America. Syd Ascione, co-author of the study and a researcher at Project Seahorse, noted: “Trade routes appear to be diversifying, and so must enforcement efforts.”
Modus operandi: How are seahorses trafficked?
The study also offers valuable insights into how these trafficking networks operate:
- Seizure locations: Airports were the most common places where seahorses were seized.
- Transport methods: Passenger baggage accounted for the highest number of seizure cases. However, the largest seizures by volume were found in sea cargo, underscoring the need for countries to closely monitor the illegal wildlife trade moving by sea.
- Seizing agencies: Customs and other law enforcement agencies conducted the vast majority of reported seizures.
- Associated products: Seahorses were frequently seized alongside other illegally traded products, such as elephant ivory and pangolin scales, demonstrating that marine life is smuggled just like terrestrial wildlife in global networks.
- Legal actions: Worryingly, only seven percent of these seizures had information on legal penalties, leaving it unclear how often seizures lead to punishment.
Implications for conservation and the fight against trafficking
The findings of this study have profound implications:
- The CITES challenge persists: International seahorse trade is allowed under CITES with permits certifying it does not harm wild populations. However, barriers such as proving trade sustainability make permits difficult to obtain, pushing the trade underground.
- Need for greater enforcement and focus: The study found that most seahorse seizures occurred in transit or destination countries, highlighting the potential effectiveness of enforcement efforts at those points. Researchers also noted that seizure data is scarce, particularly for marine life, and enforcement efforts often focus on larger, more charismatic animals like elephants or tigers.
- The importance of species identification.
- Collaboration and data improvement.
- Focusing on key actors.
Conclusion: a global call to action
The analysis of online seizure reports has proven to be a valuable and relatively efficient tool for understanding the minimum scale, financial value, geographic routes, and operational methods of the illegal seahorse trade. Dr. Teale Phelps Bondaroff, senior author and Director of Research at OceansAsia, emphasized: “All countries must step up with strong deterrents — good detective work, determined enforcement, and meaningful penalties — to shut down the illegal seahorse trade.” He added that “at the same time, we must continue using innovative research and investigation methods to uncover hidden networks and outpace traffickers.”
These findings underscore the critical need to intensify enforcement efforts and improve international cooperation. Dr. Foster also pointed out that efforts to reduce illegal trade need both “a carrot and a stick,” explaining that “we need to make sustainable, legal trade viable enough that people obey the laws, and ensure that we also have sufficient deterrents to stop illegal activity.”
Protecting marine biodiversity, including these fascinating creatures, requires a global commitment. As Dr. Foster concludes, seahorses are a symbol of ocean biodiversity, and protecting them helps everyone involved. “We’ve done work with traditional medicine traders in Hong Kong, and when we ask them, ‘How long do you want seahorses around?’, they say ‘Forever, they’re really important!’ And we agree.”
Contact
Sarah J. Foster
Project Seahorse, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, The University of British Columbia
2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
Email: s.foster@oceans.ubc.ca
Reference (open access)
Foster, S. J., Ascione, S. J., Santaniello, F., & Phelps Bondaroff, T. N. (2025). Using online reports of seahorse seizures to track their illegal trade. Conservation Biology, e70047. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.70047
Editor at the digital magazine AquaHoy. He holds a degree in Aquaculture Biology from the National University of Santa (UNS) and a Master’s degree in Science and Innovation Management from the Polytechnic University of Valencia, with postgraduate diplomas in Business Innovation and Innovation Management. He possesses extensive experience in the aquaculture and fisheries sector, having led the Fisheries Innovation Unit of the National Program for Innovation in Fisheries and Aquaculture (PNIPA). He has served as a senior consultant in technology watch, an innovation project formulator and advisor, and a lecturer at UNS. He is a member of the Peruvian College of Biologists and was recognized by the World Aquaculture Society (WAS) in 2016 for his contribution to aquaculture.
