2012. Review of Significant Trade - Cites

Hippocampus kuda
Hippocampus kuda Bleeker, 1852: Australia, Cambodia, People’s Republic of
China, Egypt, Fiji, French Polynesia, India, Japan, Kenya, Madagascar, the
Maldives, Mauritius, Federated States of Micronesia, Mozambique, Pakistan,
Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Samoa, Singapore,
Solomon Islands, Thailand, Tonga, Viet Nam.
Syngnathidae, Black Seahorse, Coloured Seahorse, Oceanic Seahorse, Spotted Seahorse,
Yellow Seahorse.
Selection for Review of Significant Trade
Hippocampus kuda was selected for review at the 24 th meeting of the Animals Committee on
the basis of trade data provided in document AC23 Doc. 8.5, noting that in 2006 and 2007
trade amounted to many thousands (AC24 Summary Record). At the 25 th Animals
Committee meeting, the working group decided to exclude Indonesia, Malaysia, New
Caledonia (France) and the United States of America while retaining Australia, Cambodia,
the People’s Republic of China (hereafter referred to as China), Egypt, Fiji, French Polynesia
(France), India, Japan, Kenya, Madagascar, the Maldives, Mauritius, the Federated States of
Micronesia, Mozambique, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea and the Philippines in the
Review of Significant Trade process, as they failed to report or provide sufficient
information to a request of information from the CITES Secretariat, sent in July 2009
(AC25 Doc. 9.5).
A. Summary
Overview of Hippocampus kuda recommendations.
Range State Provisional Summary
category
Australia Least
Concern
Limited information was available on the status of H. kuda in Australia,
and taxonomic uncertainties remain. International trade from Australia
2004-2010 was entirely of captive-bred specimens. Therefore, on the basis
of no anticipated trade, categorised as Least Concern.
Cambodia
People’s
Republic of
China
Egypt
Least
Concern
Least
Concern
Least
Concern
The status of the species is unknown with much of the available
information at the genus level, indicating population declines. The genus
was reported to be targeted by direct fishery and caught as bycatch, and
illegal trade was also reported. However, Hippocampus spp. appears to be
protected and no international trade in H. kuda was reported 2004-2010.
Therefore, on the basis of no anticipated trade, categorised as Least
Concern.
While H. kuda was considered to have been abundant in the past, declines
reported and categorised as nationally Endangered. The species was
considered to be threatened by overfishing. Relatively high international
trade levels 2004-2010, representing hundreds of thousands of wild
specimens. However, exports of wild Hippocampus spp. were prohibited in
2011. Therefore, on the basis of no anticipated trade, categorised as Least
Concern. However, it is envisaged that trade would be permitted only in
the event that substantial new information on the status of species was
available.
Specimens previously identified as H. kuda were later confirmed to be
H. fuscus and Egypt was therefore not considered to be a range State for
H. kuda. No international trade reported 2004-2010. Therefore, on the basis
of unlikely occurrence in Egypt and no anticipated trade, categorised as
Least Concern.
110