ISSN 1198-6727 Fisheries Centre Research Reports 2011 Volume 19 Number 1 Trade in seahorses and other syngnathids in countries outside Asia (1998-2001) Fisheries Centre, The University of British Columbia, Canada Trade in seahorses and other syngnathids in countries outside Asia (1998-2001)1 Edited by Amanda C.J. Vincent, Brian G. Giles, Christina A. Czembor and Sarah J. Foster Fisheries Centre Research Reports 19(1) 181 pages © published 2011 by The Fisheries Centre, The University of British Columbia 2202 Main Mall Vancouver, B.C., Canada, V6T 1Z4 ISSN 1198-6727 1 Cite as: Vincent, A.C.J., Giles, B.G., Czembor, C.A., and Foster, S.J. (eds). 2011. Trade in seahorses and other syngnathids in countries outside Asia (1998-2001). Fisheries Centre Research Reports 19(1). Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia [ISSN 1198-6727]. Fisheries Centre Research Reports 19(1) 2011 Trade in seahorses and other syngnathids in countries outside Asia (1998-2001) edited by Amanda C.J. Vincent, Brian G. Giles, Christina A. Czembor and Sarah J. Foster CONTENTS DIRECTOR‘S FOREWORD ......................................................................................................................................... 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................................. 2 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 2 Methods ............................................................................................................................................................ 2 Results .............................................................................................................................................................. 3 CHAPTER 1. TRADE IN SEAHORSES AND OTHER SYNGNATHIDS IN AFRICA ................................................................. 7 Abstract ............................................................................................................................................................. 7 Background for Kenya and Tanzania .............................................................................................................. 7 The seahorse trade in Kenya .............................................................................................................................. 13 Seahorses catches in Kenya ........................................................................................................................... 13 Dried seahorse trade in Kenya ...................................................................................................................... 14 Live seahorse trade in Kenya ......................................................................................................................... 15 Other syngnathid species in Kenya ............................................................................................................... 16 Conservation concerns about syngnathids in Kenya ................................................................................... 16 Conclusions for Kenya ................................................................................................................................... 17 The seahorse trade in Tanzania ......................................................................................................................... 17 Seahorse catches in Tanzania ........................................................................................................................ 17 Dried seahorse trade in Tanzania.................................................................................................................. 19 Live seahorse trade in Tanzania ................................................................................................................... 26 Economic importance of the seahorse fishery in Tanzania ........................................................................ 26 Other syngnathid species in Tanzania .......................................................................................................... 27 Conservation concerns about syngnathids in Tanzania.............................................................................. 29 Conclusions for Tanzania ............................................................................................................................. 29 The seahorse trade in Mozambique .................................................................................................................. 30 Seahorse catches in Mozambique ................................................................................................................ 30 Dried seahorse trade in Mozambique .......................................................................................................... 30 Live seahorse trade in Mozambique ............................................................................................................. 31 Other syngnathid species in Mozambique .................................................................................................... 31 The seahorse trade in South Africa .................................................................................................................... 31 Background for South Africa ......................................................................................................................... 31 Dried seahorse trade in South Africa ........................................................................................................... 32 Live seahorse trade in South Africa ..............................................................................................................33 The seahorse trade in other African countries ................................................................................................. 34 Conclusions for the seahorse trade in Africa ............................................................................................... 36 References ...................................................................................................................................................... 37 CHAPTER 2. SEAHORSE TRADE IN THE USA AND CANADA .................................................................................... 39 Abstract .......................................................................................................................................................... 39 Background for the USA and Canada .......................................................................................................... 39 Seahorse catches in the USA and Canada .................................................................................................... 45 Dried seahorse trade in the USA and Canada .............................................................................................. 47 Live seahorse trade in the USA and Canada................................................................................................. 50 Other syngnathid species in the USA and Canada ....................................................................................... 53 Conservation concerns about syngnathids in the USA and Canada ........................................................... 54 Conclusions .................................................................................................................................................... 54 References ...................................................................................................................................................... 55 CHAPTER 3. SEAHORSE TRADE IN MEXICO ............................................................................................................ 57 Abstract .......................................................................................................................................................... 57 Background for Mexico.................................................................................................................................. 57 Seahorse catches in Mexico ........................................................................................................................... 62 Dried seahorse trade in Mexico..................................................................................................................... 64 Live seahorse trade in Mexico .......................................................................................................................68 Other syngnathid species in Mexico ............................................................................................................. 73 Conservation concerns about syngnathids in Mexico.................................................................................. 74 Comparison to 1996 survey findings ............................................................................................................ 76 Conclusions .................................................................................................................................................... 76 References ...................................................................................................................................................... 77 CHAPTER 4. SEAHORSE TRADE IN CENTRAL AMERICA ..........................................................................................