Field surveys on recent situation of seahorses in

BIHAREAN BIOLOGIST 6 (1): pp.55-60
Article No.: 121106
©Biharean Biologist, Oradea, Romania, 2012
http://biozoojournals.3x.ro/bihbiol/index.html
Field surveys on recent situation of seahorses in Turkey
Halit FILIZ1,* and Ertan TAŞKAVAK2
1. Mugla University, Faculty of Fisheries, Dept. of Hydrobiology, 48000, Kotekli, Mugla, Turkey. Email: halit.filiz@mu.edu.tr
2. Ege University, Faculty of Fisheries, Dept. of Hydrobiology, 35100, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey. Email: ertan.taskavak@ege.edu.tr
*Corresponding author, H. Filiz, Email: halit.filiz@mu.edu.tr
Received: 11. November 2011 / Accepted: 13. March 2012 / Available online: 15. March 2012 / Printed: June 2012
Abstract. Seahorses (genus: Hippocampus) are traded globally for use in traditional medicines, souvenirs and as aquarium fishes.
Between 1999 and 2008, surveys were made in order to expose the situation (species distribution, seahorse fishery and trade etc.) of
seahorses in Turkey. The surveys were conducted on south and west coasts of Turkey where fisheries activities are extensive and
tourism is developed. Firstly fishermen, then owners of souvenir shops, citizens of the area and tourists were interviewed. In these
interviews, questionnaires (Seahorse Observation Questionnaire, Seahorse Hunter Questionnaire and Seahorse Trade
Questionnaire) were applied to all people. After all, we tried to make a decision about the situation of seahorses and trade in those
areas by the evaluation of the questionnaires. Although we determined that seahorses live in all the area and 1-100 number of
seahorses were caught as by-catch (per fisherman in a fishery season), we did not observe any fishery targeting seahorses in the area
but trade observed in some localities. Domestic consumption was too small and a few souvenir shops sold seahorses. Fishermen
generally released seahorses as alive to the sea, but sometimes one or two seahorses were taken for the friends and relatives as
souvenir. Also, some interesting findings were obtained about using seahorses as medicine in some localities.
Key words: By-catch, Hippocampus, Mediterranean, Seahorses, Trade, Turkey.
Introduction
Seahorses (Hippocampus) are important in ecological, economical, medicinal and cultural terms (Vincent et al. 2011a).
Seahorses have life histories and behaviors that might make
them vulnerable to population decline (Foster & Vincent,
2004; Vincent et al. 2011a). Thus, worldwide, seahorse population are threatened by (a) degradation of their estuarine,
seagrass, mangrove and coral habitats, (b) incidental capture
in fishing gear (bycatch), and (c) over-exploitation for use in
traditional medicines, the aquarium trade and as curiosities
(Vincent 1996, Pajaro et al. 1998, Bell et al. 2003, Giles et al.
2005, Martin-Smith & Vincent 2006, Vincent et al. 2007; Qian
et al. 2008, Vincent et al. 2011b). Seahorses are caught, directly or indirectly, in fisheries around the world, ranging
from small-scale hand collectors to bycatch in commercial
shrimp trawlers (Vincent 1996). Moreover, these fisheries are
often considered small-scale, both in terms of catch volumes
and economic value, and are rarely of concern to traditional
fisheries management bodies. The high value placed on
some of these species, and the fact that value may increase
with rarity, provides increased incentives for overexploitation (Sadovy & Vincent 2002). These fisheries may
also generate high economic value for low volume and contribute to the much needed income for local communities in
developing nations (Pajaro et al. 1998, Sadovy & Vincent
2002).
Seahorses are particularly vulnerable to population decline because of their distinctive life history, behavior and
ecology: they provide lengthy and vital parental care for
small broods, exhibit low mobility and site-fidelity, have low
natural rates of adult mortality, and (in many species) maintain faithful pair bonds. In addition, seahorses inhabit shallow, coastal areas worldwide, where anthropogenic disturbances tend to be most frequent and severe (Vincent 1996,
Hodgson 1999, Foster & Vincent 2004).
Many seahorse species are experiencing population declines (Vincent 1996) but their situation in Turkey is totally
unknown. We here report the first investigation of seahorses
in Turkey. We undertook extensive field surveys on south
and west coasts of Turkey where fisheries activities are extensive and tourism is developed, to gain an overview of
Turkish seahorse situation. Our specific objectives were to
(1) identify the major sources (gear types, areas) and amount
of seahorse exploitation, (2) document the major seahorse
trading areas and trade routes, (3) quantify the volumes and
values of seahorses traded, and (4) identify any concerns and
priority areas for future study and seahorse conservation in
Turkey.
Materials and Methods
Study species
Three of the 33 known seahorse species (genus Hippocampus) occur in
Turkish waters (Fricke et al. 2007): Hippocampus hippocampus (Linnaeus, 1758), H. guttulatus Cuvier, 1829 and H. fuscus Rüppel, 1838.
Hippocampus hippocampus, commonly known as the shortsnouted seahorse, lives between stones mainly in seagrass meadows
to depth of 10 m but was also recorded in deeper water on muddy
substrate. It is distributed in the Black Sea, Sea of Marmara, Aegean
Sea and Mediterranean Sea and adjacent estuaries in Turkish waters.
It’s globally figured in Appendix II of the Bern Convention as Data
Deficient (DD) (Anonymus 1979), and in the recently prepared Mediterranean Regional Red List (Abdul-Malak et al., 2011). For international trade, export is regulated by a licensing system (CITES II, since
15 May 2004). It’s the only species that are prohibited to be fished in
Turkish waters (Anonymous 2008-2012a, b).
Hippocampus guttulatus, commonly known as the long-snouted
seahorse, inhabits seagrass or algae in rocky or flat bottom to depth
of 10 m. It’s distributed in the Black Sea, Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea
and Mediterranean Sea and adjacent estuaries. It is globally figured
in Appendix II of the Bern Convention as DD (Anonymus 1979, as
Hippocampus ramulosus), and Near Threatened (NT) in the recently
prepared Mediterranean Regional Red List (Abdul-Malak et al.,
2011). For international trade, export is regulated by a licensing system (CITES II, since 15 May 2004).
Hippocampus fuscus, commonly known as sea pony, lives among
stones and gravel in seagrass beds at depth to 10 m. It was also observed inhabiting artificial constructions usually in harbors or bays.
It is a Lessepsian species so, only distributed in the Mediterranean
Sea. It is figured in Appendix II of the Bern Convention as DD (Ano-
Filiz, H. & Taşkavak, E.
56
nymus 1979). For international trade, export is regulated by a licensing system (CITES II, since 15 May 2004).
Little research has been conducted on wild populations of these
species (Gurkan & Taskavak 2007, Gurkan et al. 2007, Gurkan &
Culha 2008, Gurkan et al., 2011), and most parameters critical for
fisheries assessment and population viability models are unknown
for them in Turkey.
Study area and collected specimens
The survey was carried out between 1999 and 2008 in six cities in
south coast (1577 km length; Mersin, Antalya and Mugla) and west
coast (2805 km length, except islands; Izmir, Balikesir and Canakkale) of Turkey. We visited major fishing ports and fishing villages,
and interviewed people connected to the possible seahorse fisheries
and/or trades in each area. We visited 32 localities (Fig. 1), and interviewed 394 people. In these localities semi-structured interviews
were conducted, according to the methods of Vincent (1996). In each
interview, we questioned information on the prevalence of seahorse,
seahorse exploitation and trade, including past and the present catch
levels, trade volumes (availability and demand), values and routes.
In addition, we recorded information on the relative abundance of
seahorses, their uses, and fisheries (gear, season, areas fished and
time). We cross-checked responses extensively by asking variations
of the same question at different stages during an interview, and by
asking the same questions to people at the same and different levels
of trade. Discussions lasted as long as respondents were willing to
talk, from a few minutes to a few hours. Seahorses were collected
from fishers or souvenir shops, if they were kept as dried. For each
specimen obtained, its location, where it was caught or brought and
additional information on depth was recorded according to fishers’
or sellers’ statement. Specimens were measured and weighed in situ
or laboratory.
Surveys were used to produce (a) a qualitative description of the
seahorse fishery and trade, (b) quantitative estimates of trade volumes and prices and (c) a description of the perceived temporal
trend in seahorse landings. The informal nature of the surveys made
it difficult to collect quantitative data rigorously, as not all respondents are provided. No attempt was made to address possible
sources of error or bias in survey responses, such that provide only a
preliminary description of the situation of the Turkish seahorses.
Results
The data derived from 394 interviews with fishers from 32
fishing ports and villages, where 1910 dried seahorses were
counted or collected (Table 1). The collection comprised two
species of seahorses: H. hippocampus and H. guttulatus.
Seahorse species, distributions and habitat
Fishers and sellers distinguished the seahorses by size (small
or big), rather than species. H. hippocampus and H. guttulatus
were collected as dried and traders did not distinguish between them. Collections of dried seahorses given to us by
fishers usually included both species. We obtained 279 H.
hippocampus specimens, weighing 0.18-3.04 g (mean=2.06
g±1.07 SD [standard deviation]) and 5.2-12.8 cm in height
(mean=8.36 cm±1.7 SD). The 135 specimens of H. guttulatus
weighed 0.98–5.86 g (mean=2.15 g± 1.07 SD) and were 6.4–
13.2 cm in height (mean=10.8 cm± 1.2 SD). Throughout the
southern and western coasts of Turkey, two species were
most commonly associated with seagrass or rocks, and were
also strongly associated with sandy and muddy bottoms.
Seahorse fishery in Turkey
Seahorses are always caught as bycatch in artisanal fishery,
trawls, gill nets and purse seines. Although trade exists in
some localities, no direct fishery on seahorses was observed.
Fishers reported finding seahorses at 1–100 m depth, most of
Figure 1. Map of Turkey, showing west and south coasts,
where the study was conducted on (Prepared by S. Can AKCINAR).
17. Turgutreis (44)
16. Bodrum (10)
15. Akyaka (15)
14. Datca (24)
13. Fethiye (15)
12. Kalkan (4)
11. Kas (6)
10. Kale (3)
9. Finike (11)
8. Antalya (6)
7. Side (7)
6. Alanya (4)
0
0
0
By+O
By+O
By+O
By+O
I+II
I+II
I+II
I+II
I+II
I+II
Destination
1-2
1-2
1-2
1-2
1-2
1-2
No
Dawn
GN (Mullus and
Sarda nets)
GN+PS
GN
Daytime
Dawn
Dawn & sunset
Morning
AF+Tr
Catch
Dawn & sunset
Time
GN
AF+Tr
Device
15-60
In shallow
waters
0-55 (generally
15 m)
0-35
0-15
0-22
Depth (m)
seagrass+muddy
seagrass; seagrass+sandy
seagrass; seagrass+sandy
seagrass
seagrass
seagrass; seagrass+sandy
Habitat
D&O
D&O
D&O
D&O
D&O
D&O
Use
No
No
No
No
No
No
Trade
1586
118
By+NR
III
>10
AF+GN
Daytime
0-35
seagrass
D&O
Yes
Risk: At risk; here is a tourist county; seahorses are sold in all 7 souvenir shops; 118 H. hippocampus (native origin) and 1468 dried exported seahorses are counted
2
2
0
By+NR
IV
5-10
GN+Tr
Winter
0-30
muddy
D&O
No
Risk: Low
3
2
1
By+Fr
I+IV
50-100
AF+PS
Dawn & night
15-60
seagrass; seagrass+sandy
D&O
No
Risk: At risk; because fishery quite develop here!
0
0
0
No
Risk: Low
14
13
1
By+O
I+II
1-5
GN
1-100
seagrass; stony
D&O
Yes
Risk: Low; but presence of trade may force the fishermen to keep the seahorses; seahorses also had in situ commercial value; dive masters in these towns took tourists to specific sites to see these fishes
3
2
1
By+O
I
2-3
GN
Dawn
8-10
seagrass; stony
D&O
No
Risk: Low; seahorses also had in situ commercial value; dive masters in these towns took tourists to specific sites to see these fishes.
10
6
4
By+Fr
I
2-3
GN
Dawn
5-50
seagrass; stony; sandy; muddy
D&O
Yes
D&C
Risk: At risk; no extensive trade but using them as cure and demand may force the fishermen to keep the seahorses
GN (Mullus nets)
6
6
0
By+Fr
III
5-10
Dawn
50-60
seagrass
D&O
Yes
Risk: At risk; because the fishermen do not intend to release the seahorses because of demand and little commercial value
2
2
0
By+O
I+II
1-2
GN+PS
Dawn & night
0-100
seagrass
D&O
No
D&C
Risk: Probably at risk; because seahorses are caught very occasionally, the area is too deep; no trade is observed even existing use of seahorses as cure; but this demand may chance the fishermen’s
intent to release seahorses to the sea by time.
5
5
0
By+Fr
I+II+III+IV
3-5
AF+Tr+GN
Dawn
0-55
seagrass; sandy
D&O
Yes
Risk: At risk; here is a tourism place; fishermen do not intend to release the seahorses because of demand and commercial value.
GN (Mullus nets)
16
12
4
By+Fr
I+II+III+IV
1-4
Dawn
0-15
seagrass
D&O
Yes
Risk: At risk; here is a tourism place; fishermen do not intend to release the seahorses because of demand and commercial value.
0
0
Risk: Low
0
5. Anamur (1)
Risk: Low
0
Risk: Low
2
Risk: Low
2
2
By+O
2
0
By+O
4. Bozyazi (5)
3. Aydincik (8)
2. Kizkalesi (3)
B
Fishery
5
A
2
N
Collected specimens
5
Risk: Low
2
Risk: Low
4
SOUTH COAST
1. Mersin (12)
Localities
Table 1. Number of seahorses collected from 32 localities and information about them, number of questionnaire was given in parenthesis after locality and the localities were trade was observed indicated in italic. [N=
Total; A=, Hippocampus hippocampus; B= H. guttulatus], [By+O= Bycatch occasionally; By+Fr= Bycatch frequently; By+NR= Bycatch but no releasing; By(?)= Told as bycatch but it seems no true], [I= Seahorses generally
released to the sea; II= Sometimes seahorses are taken as souvenir for friends and relatives; III= Seahorses dried, stored and sold by the fishermen to the sellers; IV= Seahorses dried, stored and used as ornament in
ships, houses and shops; V= Seahorses dried and used as good omen item], [AF= Artisanal fishery; Tr= Trawl; GN= Gill net; PS= Purse seine], [D&O= Dried and used as ornament; D&C= Dried, pulverized and used as
cure; D&GO= Dried and used as good omen item; D&S= Dried and used as souvenir].
TOTAL (394)
32. Behramkale (8)
31. Ayvalık (8)
30. Alibey Island (14)
29. Yenisakran (12)
28. Eskifoca (13)
27. Kemeralti (3)
26. Guzelbahce (9)
25. Urla (10)
WEST COAST
24. Sigacik (6)
23. Torba (20)
22. Golturkbuku (35)
21. Gundogan (30)
20. Yalikavak (25)
19. Gumusluk (20)
18. Kadikalesi (3)
Localities
Table 1. (Continued)
4
3
0
0
2
3
B
0
A
0
By+Fr
By+O
By+O
By+O
Fishery
II+III
I+II+IV+V
I+II+IV
I
Destination
1-7
1-6
1-2
1-2
No
GN
Dawn & sunset
Dawn & sunset
GN (Mullus nets)
Catch
Dawn
Time
GN
Device
4
0
By+Fr
I+II+III+IV
2-3
AF
Dawn
0-15
40-45
0-100
12-60
15-20
0-15
0-15
Depth (m)
seagrass
seagrass; sandy
seagrass
seagrass
seagrass; seagrass+sandy
seagrass
seagrass
Habitat
D&O
D&C
D&S
D&O
D&O
D&C
D&S
D&O
D&O
D&O
D&O
D&GO
D&O
-
Use
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
Trade
Risk: High risk; both extensive fishing activity and trade; both sellers and buyers exist; also some people look for seahorses to use as cure.
35
11
14
D&S
Yes
Risk: At risk; here is a tourist bazaar where seahorses are sold; there are at least 4 shops to sell seahorses as ornament; sellers inform us that some of them are imported and the sellers have importation
paper; but illegally some of them have local origin
20
4
0
By+O
I+III+IV
1-2
AF
Dawn
2-3
seagrass
D&O
Yes
D&S
Risk: At risk; because fisheries’ activities develop here; trade is observed; all these factors may force the fishermen to keep seahorses dead or alive by time
4
4
0
By+O
I
1-2
GN
Dawn & sunset
0-10
seagrass
No
Risk: Low; no direct fishery or trade; releasing; a lot of underwater observations occurred but habitat degradation may be a problem
Yes
58
33
25
By(?)+Fr
I+II+III+IV+V
5-10
AF+Tr
During day &
2-30
seagrass; stony
D&O
By+NR
night
D&C
D&S
Risk: High risk; here is a touristic place; fishermen do not intend to release the seahorses because of demand and commercial value; also use as cure may be increase demand.
Yes
2-30
seagrass
D&O
3
2
1
By(?)+Fr
I+II+III+IV+V
2-3
GN
all day or night;
D&C
whenever they
D&S
fishing
Risk: High risk; no direct fishery but trade; releasing is occurring but demand has forced the fishermen to give up releasing; also use as cure may be increase demand.
3
3
0
By+O
I+IV
2-3
AF
Dawn
0-15
seagrass+stony
D&O
No
Risk: Low; no direct fishery or trade; releasing is occurring; but data needed.
1910
279
135
Risk: At risk; because fisheries activities develop here; trade is observed; use of seahorses as cure; all these factors may force the fishermen to keep seahorses dead or alive by time
4
4
0
By+Fr
I+II
3-5
GN
Dawn
2-30
seagrass; seagrass+stony
Risk: Possible at risk; no trade, but extensive fishing activity and habitat degradation.
Solea nets+Tr+PS
100
20
80
By(?)+Fr
III
1-100
Day & night
1-50
segrass; sandy; muddy;
By+NR
stony
4
Mullus and shrimp
Dawn
nets
Risk: At risk; because the fishermen do not intend to release the seahorses because of demand and little commercial value
5
4
1
By+O
I+II+IV+V
1-2
AF+PS
Dawn & midday
Risk: Low
2
2
0
By+O
I+II
1-2
AF
Dawn & night
Risk: Low
Risk: Low
7
N
0
Risk: Low
2
Risk: Low
3
Collected specimens
Situation of seahorses in Turkey
them being caught between 15 and 25 m, at dawn or sunset.
Seasonally 1-100 seahorses were caught as bycatch per fisherman.
Generally, captured seahorses are released to the sea
alive (252 of 286 questioned fishers). Sometimes seahorses
are taken as souvenir for friends and relatives (12 of 286). In
some localities seahorses are dried, stored and used as ornament in ships, houses or shops (8 of 286). Some fishers dry
seahorses and use them as good omen item (7 of 286). A few
fishers tended to dry, store and sold the seahorses (7 of 286).
Uses of seahorses in Turkey
Seahorses were dried as curios in all localities. Although no
extensive trade was observed, we could determine 13 localities (shown as italic in Table 1) involving trade. More rarely,
seahorses were sold as shell craft with sea stars and shells.
Local medicinal uses of dried seahorses were limited. In
6 localities (Fethiye, Akyaka, Sigacik, Guzelbahce, Alibey Island and Ayvalik) it is mentioned the use of seahorses as
folk medicine to treat asthma and enuretic children. In this
application, seahorses were generally dried, pulverized and
consumed with a drink (generally with tea).
A few respondents believed seahorses were good luck
omen, but in general people did not attach special importance to them except their beauty and cuteness. Most fishers
release seahorses just because of their beauty and cuteness.
In Kalkan and Kas seahorses also had in situ commercial
value; dive masters in these towns took tourists to specific
sites to see these fishes.
Dried seahorse trade
A small part of imported dried seahorses have Indo-Pacific
origin (Turkmen & Alpbaz 2001), and most of those traded
domestically, were caught incidentally in the gill net, purse
seine and trawl fisheries. Fishers repeatedly admitted that
seahorses were caught regularly, 1 or 3 individuals (per
fisher per season). Only in Side, Datca, Bodrum, Turgutreis,
Gundogan, Guzelbahce, Alibey Island and Ayvalik, most of
the fishers said that seahorses in bycatch were retained for
sale, and no other fishers had knowledge of, or experience
with, trading seahorses to exporters. Fishers involved in this
trade in Gulbahce mentioned the exporters were interested
only in purchasing large quantities of seahorses in 1980’s,
and had left because of declining catches.
Value of dried seahorses
The value of dried seahorses changed around US$ 1.00 –
15.00 per individual, but occasionally more, particularly if
selling directly to tourists. Seahorses did not comprise a major portion of fishers’ and traders’ incomes in any of the localities we surveyed.
Conservation concerns
Of the 286 experienced respondents who felt able to comment about changes in seahorse bycatch rates over time, 225
said they had not decreased or increased. They told us that 1
or 3 seahorse individuals were caught regularly (per fisher
per season). 15 fishers said that seahorses decreased and 46
increased.
59
Discussion
It is a promising finding that no direct fishery or extensive
trade has been observed in the surveyed localities. In Turkey, the dried seahorse trade was almost completely supplied by incidental catches in commercial fisheries. Although
fishers were paid little per seahorse, there was sufficient
economic incentive for them to sort seahorses from their bycatch, particularly when exporters purchasing large quantities were present. Artisanal fishers caught few seahorses and
did not participate in the dried trade, except on the Side,
Datca, Bodrum, Turgutreis, Gundogan, Guzelbahce, Alibey
Island and Ayvalik for example, seahorse catches by artisanal fishers were infrequent because they fished on sandy
bottom substrate which is not preferred by seahorses, and
used mesh sizes too large to catch seahorses. However, particularly in purse seine lots of seahorse has been caught (up
to 100 individuals).
Generally, seahorses are landed only when they died or
because of friends/relatives’ requests. But in localities where
trade was observed fishermen do not intend to release the
seahorses because of demand and commercial value. Thus,
demand and commercial value may trigger direct fisheries.
Interestingly, prohibition to catch seahorses (at least one
species, H. hippocampus) has not affected releasing them to
the sea. Most fishers release seahorses just because of their
beauty and cuteness, and until now they have no commercial value.
Although this general releasing trend seems good, in fact
this is not enough for these vulnerable species, which have
vital parental care, low mobility, site-fidelity, and (in many
species) maintain faithful pair bonds.
Reported seahorse declines in some localities merit further conservation assessment and consideration of remedial
action. Although there are legal and administrative actions
for the protection of seahorses, some failures were observed.
In Notifications implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture
and Rural Affairs, H. hippocampus is the only species that is
prohibited to be fished in Turkish waters (Anonymous 20082012a,b). Actually, three species from the same genus are
distributed along Turkish coasts, thus a regulation or correction should be needed in this prohibition as including all
seahorses (as Hippocampus spp.), since it is not easy and possible for the fishermen to identify these species correctly. In
addition, even if we accepted that the fishermen were able to
separate the species, then the other two species would remain out of protection. Little information is available on
wild populations of these species and most parameters critical for fisheries assessment and population viability models
are unknown for them.
Briefly, Turkey has taken necessary precautions on legal
and management base to ensure maintaining the habitats of
seahorses either because of the national legislation responsibilities or international responsibilities. However, the important issue on this is the method, possibility and concept on
performing these responsibilities.
Seemingly, recent seahorse trade is not intensive in Turkey coasts. However, there is a potential danger especially in
touristic developing coastal areas. More comprehensive projects and studies on seahorses must be initiated.
60
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