2012. Review of Significant Trade - Cites

Hippocampus kelloggi
(Giles et al., 2006).
The CITES MA of Viet Nam noted that there had been no exports of wild H. kelloggi since
350 specimens were exported in 2006, although they noted that illegal trade was an issue
(T.M. Vuong, in litt. to UNEP-WCMC, 2011).
Management: The CITES MA of Viet Nam (T.M. Vuong, in litt. to UNEP-WCMC, 2011)
noted that non-detriment findings had not been conducted, but there was a need for such
assessments to be done within the next five years, in case exports of wild specimens were
allowed. They noted that the species is successfully bred in captivity and legally sourced
from captive breeding facilities in Viet Nam (T.M. Vuong, in litt. to UNEP-WCMC, 2011),
with breeding farms considered to be in line with Conf. Res. 10.16 (T. M. Vuong, pers.
comm. to CITES Secretariat, 2011); export of seahorses taken from the wild is not permitted
until non-detriment findings have been conducted (T.M. Vuong, pers. comm. to UNEP-
WCMC, 2011).
No species specific monitoring program was in place except those on the monitoring of
biodiversity in general (T.M. Vuong, in litt. to UNEP-WCMC, 2011).
Harvest of Hippocampus spp. within the core zones of the five Marine Protected Areas was
reported to be prohibited, with plans to increase the number of MPA’s existing (T.M. Vuong,
in litt. to UNEP-WCMC, 2011). The species was reported be covered within the following
legislation (T.M. Vuong, in litt. to UNEP-WCMC, 2011):
- Government Decree No 82/2006/ND-CP of August 10, 2006: Management of export,
import, re-export and introduction from the sea, transit, breeding
- Circular No 59/2010/TT-BNNPTNT of October 19, 2010: Ministry of Agriculture and
Rural Development (MARD) on Promulgating Lists of wild animals and plants under
CITES management
Giles et al. (2006) believed that regulation of international trade would have little impact on
reducing seahorse by-catch or domestic trade in Viet Nam.
Captive-bred specimens of H. kelloggi were reported to have been released in Hon Mun
Marine Protected Area for the conservation of the species (T.M. Vuong, in litt. to UNEP-
WCMC, 2011).
D. Problems identified that are not related to the implementation of Article IV,
paragraphs 2 (a), 3 or 6 (a)
By-catch was reported as a main threat. Illegal trade was reported to be occurring in
People’s Republic of China, India, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam. Trade in
Hippocampus spp. has been reported at the genus level, making the monitoring of trade in
individual species difficult. Furthermore, the mixed reporting of units (specimens and
weight (kg)) makes it difficult to estimate the total number of specimens in international
trade.
E. References
Alesna, E. 2011. Edwyn Alesna (CITES Management Authority of the Philippines) pers. comm. to
UNEP-WCMC, 01-10-2011.
Anon. 2001. Thai Fishing Vessels Statistics 1999. Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and
Cooperatives, Government of Thailand: Bangkok, Thailand.
CHARM 2005. Coastal Habitats and Resources Management Project: CHARM. Thai Fishery Laws.
Translated from Compilation of Fishery Laws (in Thai) of Bureau of Fisheries Adminstration
and Management, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, 2003.
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