2012. Review of Significant Trade - Cites

Hippocampus spinosissimus
Hippocampus spinosissimus Weber, 1913: Cambodia, People’s Republic of China,
Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Viet Nam.
Syngnathidae, Hedgehog Seahorse.
Selection for Review of Significant Trade
Hippocampus spinosissimus was selected for review following 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 of individuals (AC24 Summary Record).
At the 25 th Animals Committee meeting, the working group decided to exclude Australia,
Indonesia and Malaysia from the review, while retaining Cambodia, the People’s Republic
of China (hereafter referred to as China), Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka,
Thailand, and Viet Nam in the 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 spinosissimus recommendations.
Range Provisional Summary
State category
Cambodia Least Status poorly known with much of the available information at the genus
Concern level. Hippocampus spp. was reported to be targeted by direct fishery and be
threatened through by-catch; illegal trade has also been reported. However,
protected in Cambodia and no international trade in H. spinosissimus
reported 2004-2010. On the basis of no anticipated international trade,
categorised as Least Concern. Furthermore, it is envisaged that trade would
be permitted only in the event that substantial new information on the
status of species was available.
People’s
Republic of
China
Myanmar
Least
Concern
Least
Concern
Philippines Least
Concern
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Least
Concern
Least
Concern
Status poorly known, with much of the available information at the genus
level. Hippocampus spp. is threatened by harvest particularly as by-catch.
Apart from a seizure of 37 bodies no international trade was reported 2004-
2010. Exports of wild Hippocampus spp. were banned in 2011. Therefore, on
the basis of no anticipated trade, categorised as Least Concern.
Population considered small and discontinuous but not targeted directly by
fisheries. No international trade was reported 2004-2010. Therefore, on the
basis of no anticipated trade, categorised as Least Concern.
Status poorly known with reports of population declines. Illegal fishing was
reported although harvest and trade in wild specimens is prohibited. No
international trade reported 2004-2010. Therefore, on the basis of no
anticipated trade, categorised as Least Concern.
Considered either rare or extinct in Singapore. Harvest and trade is
prohibited without permits and commercial harvest was not taking place.
No international trade was reported 2004-2010. Therefore, on the basis of no
anticipated trade, categorised as Least Concern.
The species is not abundant in Sri Lanka. Permits are no longer issued for
export. No international trade was reported 2004-2010. Therefore, on the
basis of no anticipated trade, categorised as Least Concern.
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