Investigations into the Senegalese trade in CITES-listed seahorses, Hippocampus algiricus Kate West September 2012 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science and the Diploma of Imperial College London DECLARATION OF OWN WORK I declare that this thesis (insert full title) Investigations into the Senegalese trade in CITES-listed seahorses, Hippocampus algiricus is entirely my own work and that where material could be construed as the work of others, it is fully cited and referenced, and/or with appropriate acknowledgement given. Signature …………………………………………………….. Name of student Kate West (please print) Name of Supervisor(s) Dr Pia Orr, Dr Amanda Vincent and Chris Ransom 1 Contents Contents ..................................................................................................... 2 List of Acronyms ......................................................................................... 6 Acknowledgements .................................................................................... 7 Abstract ..................................................................................................... 8 Introduction ............................................................................................... 9 1.1 Wildlife trade.................................................................................. 9 1.2 The trade in marine wildlife ............................................................ 9 1.3 Seahorse trade ............................................................................. 10 1.4 Current policy for seahorses ......................................................... 11 1.5 Study Species: Hippocampus algiricus .......................................... 11 1.6 Hippocampus algiricus: CITES significant trade review ................. 12 1.7 Study Focus: West Africa .............................................................. 13 1.8 Aims and Objectives ..................................................................... 14 2. Background .......................................................................................... 15 2.1 Previous work in West Africa ........................................................ 15 2.2 Threats to seahorses .................................................................... 15 2.3 Understanding seahorse trade ..................................................... 16 2.4 Conducting trade surveys and using local knowledge ................... 17 2.5 Study Site: Senegal ....................................................................... 18 3. Methods ............................................................................................... 20 3.1 Surveys and interviews ................................................................. 20 3.1.1 Snowball sampling: semi-structured interviews .............. 20 3.1.2 Triangulation across and within trade levels ................... 21 3.2 Site selection: at regional level ..................................................... 22 3.3 Species ecology and biological measurements ............................. 23 3.4 Analysis and trade calculations: .................................................... 23 3.4.1 Current volumes .............................................................. 23 3.4.2 Changes over time ........................................................... 24 2 3.4.3 Prices ............................................................................... 25 Results ..................................................................................................... 26 4.1 Biology ......................................................................................... 26 4.1.1 Seahorse species ............................................................. 26 4.1.2 Distribution ..................................................................... 26 4.1.3 Colour and habitat ........................................................... 29 4.1.4 Measurements ................................................................ 30 4.2 Fisheries ....................................................................................... 31 4.2.1 Commercial ..................................................................... 31 4.2.2 Artisanal .......................................................................... 31 4.2.3 Gear Type ........................................................................ 32 4.2.4 Mesh sizes for Artisanal and Commercial vessels ............ 32 4.3 Uses of seahorses ......................................................................... 34 4.3.1 Use in Senegal ................................................................. 34 4.3.2 Export Use ....................................................................... 35 4.4 Trade structure and routes ........................................................... 37 4.4.1. Trade routes from commercial vessels ........................... 38 4.4.2 Trade routes from artisanal fisheries ............................... 38 4.4 Trade Volumes ............................................................................. 39 4.4.1 Official records ................................................................ 39 4.4.2 Commercial fisheries ....................................................... 41 4.4.3 Artisanal fisheries ............................................................ 41 4.4.4 Catch per unit effort ........................................................ 43 4.4.5 Changes over time ........................................................... 45 4.5 Prices ............................................................................................ 47 4.6 Other Species ............................................................................... 48 Discussion ................................................................................................ 49 5.1 Biological and ecological findings and their application to species conservation ...................................................................................... 49 5.2 Effect of gear type and mesh size on seahorse catch ................... 50 5. Volumes and Effort ......................................................................... 51 5.3.1 Volumes .......................................................................... 51 5.3.2 Fishing effort ................................................................... 51 5.4 Trade Routes and Emerging trade ................................................ 52 5.5 Limitations and recommendations for future research ................ 53 3 5.5.1 Biological information ..................................................... 53 5.5.2 Estimating population density and trends ....................... 54 5.5.3 Data reliability ................................................................. 55 5.6 Recommendations for future conservation .................................. 55 5.7 Effectiveness of CITES implementation ........................................ 56 5.8 Recommendations for local CITES Authorities .............................. 57 References ............................................................................................... 58 Appendix 1 ............................................................................................... 68 Appendix 2 ............................................................................................... 72 Appendix 3 ........................................................................................... 73 Appendix 4.1 ............................................................................................ 74 Appendix 4.2 ............................................................................................ 75 Appendix 5 ............................................................................................... 76 Appendix 6 ............................................................................................... 77 Appendix 7 ............................................................................................... 78 List of Figures Figure 2.1: West Africa Map and Interview Regions…………………………………………………….…18 Figure 4.1: Distribution of H. algiricus across West African coast……………………………….....25 Figure 4.2: Depth chart for Senegalese coastline…………………………………………………….……..27 Figure 4.3: Gear types differences among regions………………………………………………….….…..31 Figure 4.4: Method for measuring net mesh sizes………………………………………………………....32 Figure 4.5: Comparison of median mesh size between fishing villages……………………..…..32 Figure 4.6: Photographs of different seahorse uses in Senegal……………………………..……...34 Figure 4.7: Variation in seahorse use across Senegal ………………………………………………...….35 Figure 4.8: Trade routes in West Africa…………………………………………………………………….......36 Figure 4.9: Representation of trade structure……………………………………………………..….……..38 Figure 4.10: Official CITES export record………………………………………………………………….......39 4 Figure 4.11.: In-country export data obtained………………………………………………………….……39 Figure 4.12: Estimates of yearly seahorse catch per fisher …………………………………………..41 Figure 4.13: Catch per unit effort data per region ……………………………………………..….….42 Figure 4.14: Changes in seahorse length…………………………………………………………………..…..44 Figure 4.15: Changes in seahorse catch…………………………………………………………………………45 Figure 4.16: Changes in artisanal fishing effort……………………………………………………………..45 List of Tables Table 3.1 Interview respondents and occupation………………………………………………………….20 Table 3.2 Shows respondent by level ……………………………………………………………………….……20 Table 3.3: Names of