2012. Review of Significant Trade - Cites

Hippocampus kuda
Source: T. M. Vuong, in litt. to UNEP-WCMC, 2011
Viet Nam was reported to be one of the top five producers of dried Hippocampus spp. in the
world (Project Seahorse, unpubl. data, cited in Giles et al., 2006). Vincent (1996) estimated the
annual exports of dried Hippocampus spp. from Viet Nam to be five tonnes. While internal
trade in “seahorse tonic” was reported to exist (CoP12 Prop. 37), the majority of specimens
were exported into China, “generally through unofficial and unregulated channels” (Giles et
al., 2006). Information on the nature and size of the trade was considered insufficient (Giles
et al., 2006). The Vietnamese CITES Management Authority (T. M. Vuong, in litt. to UNEP-
WCMC, 2011) noted that H. kuda “may be the most commonly found seahorse species in
illegal trade in Vietnam”.
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. They noted that H. kuda is
successfully bred in captivity in Viet Nam (T.M. Vuong, in litt. to UNEP-WCMC, 2011) and
legally sourced from captive breeding facilities, which are 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, 2011a).
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 five Marine Protected Areas (MPA)
was reported to be prohibited, with plans to increase the number of existing MPAs (T. M.
Vuong, in litt. to UNEP-WCMC, 2011).
Further information on legislation and other management measures, as provided by the
Viet Nam Management Authority (T. M. Vuong, in litt. to UNEP-WCMC, 2011), can be
found in the management section for Viet Nam in the review of H. kelloggi.
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
Cambodia, India, Singapore, 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.
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