2012. Review of Significant Trade - Cites

Hippocampus kuda
considered to be needed to assess the abundance of the species (F. K. Lye, pers. comm. to
UNEP-WCMC, 2011).
The species was categorised as Vulnerable in the 2008 Red Data Book (Ng et al., 2008).
Threats: Habitat loss due to coastal development was considered to be the biggest threat to
Hippocampus spp. in Singapore (F. K. Lye, pers. comm. to UNEP-WCMC, 2011). In 1998-2001,
some traders were reported to source their stock locally (Project Seahorse in litt. to UNEP-
WCMC, 2011).
Trade: According to data in the CITES Trade Database, no trade originating in Singapore
has been reported since 2005 (Table 5). Annual reports have been received from Singapore
for every year. No indirect exports of H. kuda originating in Singapore were reported 2004-
2010.
Table 5. Direct exports of Hippocampus kuda from Singapore, 2004-2010. All trade was in live
specimens. The species was listed in Appendix II on 15/05/2004. (No trade has been reported since
2005.)
Source Purpose Reported by 2004 2005 Total
W T Exporter
Importer 185 26 211
- - Exporter
Importer 86 86
Source: CITES Trade Database, UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK
The CITES Scientific Authority of Singapore (F. K. Lye, pers. comm. to UNEP-WCMC, 2011)
noted that a total of 277 Hippocampus spp., originating in Indonesia and China, had been
found in illegal trade 2008-2010 (F. K. Lye, in litt. to UNEP-WCMC, 2011).
Management: Section 5 of the Wild Animals and Birds Act 1965, rev. 2000 (Chapter 351)
prohibits the killing, taking or keeping of any wild animal or bird without a licence
(Singapore, 1965), however, such licences were reported to not have been issued “for many
years” (Heng, 2007). The Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 2006 prohibits the
trade in endangered animals without a permit (Singapore, 2006; F. K. Lye, in litt. to UNEP-
WCMC, 2011). The Fisheries Act 1970 prohibits the use of explosives, poison or trawl nets to
trap fish (Singapore, 1970).
The CITES Scientific Authority of Singapore (F. K. Lye, pers. comm. to UNEP-WCMC, 2011)
confirmed that no CITES permits for locally sourced Hippocampus spp. had been issued, that
harvest of Hippocampus spp. was not taking place for commercial trade and therefore nondetriment
findings were not being made.
The CITES Scientific Authority of Singapore (F. K. Lye, pers. comm. to UNEP-WCMC, 2011)
noted that Hippocampus spp. were being successfully bred in captivity in Singapore.
SOLOMON ISLANDS
Distribution in range State: The species’ occurrence in the Solomon Islands was confirmed
by Lourie et al. (1999a; 2004), but no further information on the distribution could be located.
Population trends and status: No information was located.
Threats: No information was located.
Trade: According to data in the CITES Trade Database, reported trade originating in the
Solomon Islands between 2004 and 2010 comprised one wild-sourced scientific specimen
imported by the United States from Canada in 2008. The Solomon Islands became a Party to
CITES in 2007 and has not yet submitted any annual reports.
126